Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) surprised many when she appeared alongside Vice President Kamala Harris in Ripon, Wisconsin to endorse her candidacy while criticizing Donald Trump. Cheney’s public endorsement of Harris on October 3, 2024, led to a swift response from Trump.

Trump took to Truth Social to criticize both Cheney and her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, labeling them as suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

Dick Cheney, on September 6, 2024, also expressed his support for Harris in the presidential race. He publicly voiced his opposition to Trump, whom he described as a significant threat to the nation.

Trump, who has had several confrontations with Liz Cheney over the January 6 committee hearings, accused her of inciting the Capitol attack, referring to her as a “low IQ War Hawk.”

Cheney, during the event, clarified that her critiques were not personal but based on her worries about the nation’s future. “In this election, putting patriotism ahead of partisanship is not an aspiration,” Cheney stated. “It is our duty.” She appealed to the attendees to consider Harris as a potential alternative to Trump in the forthcoming election.

The growing rapport between Cheney and Harris is indicative of Harris’ campaign strategy to appeal to dissatisfied Republicans. Aligning with a staunch conservative like Cheney allows Harris to reach a demographic open to voting across party lines. Cheney, removed from her House seat after criticizing Trump, concedes that her political loyalty has become secondary to her worries about Trump’s sway over the GOP.

In a later media interview, Cheney reiterated her criticism of Trump, indicating that he praised rather than denounced the rioters after the Capitol was breached on January 6, a reflection of his character.

Besides the Cheneys, Harris’ campaign has garnered support from a growing list of ex-Republican officials and former Trump administration staff, a considerable shift in political alliances as the election nears.

More than 100 former GOP officials, including those from previous Republican administrations, have publicly expressed their support for Harris. They cite worries about Trump’s fitness for office and the potential risk he poses to American democracy.

Adam Kinzinger, a former Representative from Illinois who spoke at the Democratic National Convention in August, called on GOP voters to support Harris. Kinzinger indicated his willingness to accept a cabinet position under Harris if offered.

Jeff Flake, a long-serving senator from Arizona, has endorsed the Democratic ticket, citing his previous work with Harris in the Senate and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, in the House. Flake encouraged Republicans who share his sentiment to do the same.

Endorsements for Harris extend beyond elected officials to include former Trump administration staff. Anthony Scaramucci, a White House Communications Director for a brief time, and Stephanie Grisham, a former Press Secretary, have both endorsed Harris.

Speaking on MSNBC during the first debate between Harris and Trump, Scaramucci stated, “She [Harris] is the person dedicated to service — he’s the person that’s dedicated to self-service.”

Grisham, who also spoke at the Democratic National Convention, told the crowd, “Kamala Harris tells the truth. She respects the American people and she has my vote.”

In a significant development, over 200 former staffers of prior Republican presidential nominees signed an open letter endorsing Harris over Trump. The signees warned that a second Trump term would negatively impact everyday people.

The letter appealed to “moderate Republicans and conservative independents” to support Harris and Walz. The signees cautioned that another term with Trump could jeopardize democratic movements and could result in the U.S. abandoning allies while becoming closer with dictators.

A group of 24 Wisconsin Republicans also wrote an open letter stating that Trump’s values do not align with Wisconsin’s, and that the Harris-Walz ticket represents “freedom, democracy, and decency.”

The Harris campaign leveraged these Republican endorsements in an ad titled “Unstable Threat” featuring critical comments about Trump from his former allies. This strategy highlights the campaign’s efforts to appeal to Republican-leaning and undecided voters in a potentially close race.

While these endorsements signify a significant party-line departure, not all former Trump allies have endorsed the Democratic ticket. Some, like former Vice President Mike Pence, have refrained from endorsing Trump but have not endorsed Harris either.

The Trump campaign has downplayed these Republican endorsements of Harris. In response to the open letter from former GOP presidential staffers, the campaign dismissed the signatories as unknown individuals who prefer chaos over Trump’s return to the White House.

As the 2024 presidential race heats up, the Harris-Walz campaign continues to spotlight these bipartisan endorsements as part of its strategy to attract a wide range of voters. The increasing number of Republican figures supporting the Democratic ticket highlights the deep divisions within the GOP regarding Trump’s ongoing influence and the readiness of some conservatives to prioritize national interests over party loyalty.