GOP former U.S. Rep. David Trott urges Michiganders to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris at an event in Birmingham on Oct. 29, 2024 | Harris campaign photo
Ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris’ closing argument speech Tuesday night in Washington, D.C., Republican former U.S. Rep. Dave Trott (R-Commerce Twp.), co-chair of Republicans for Harris, joined with reproductive rights advocate Amanda Stratton in Rochester Hills earlier in the day to urge Michigan Republicans to put country over party and vote for Harris.
“Donald Trump represents a unique threat to our Constitution and to the fabric of our democracy, and I believe we have a civic duty as Americans to defeat him once and for all,” said Trott. “On Jan. 6 [2021], his disregard for the value of our democracy and rule of law and the idea of patriotic service became violently clear. … The peaceful transfer of power is a pillar of our democracy, and Trump threw it all aside for the sake of his own power, greed and ambition. Someone like that should never be allowed near the Oval Office ever again.”
Republicans for Harris is a coalition of GOP members working to reach and mobilize Republican voters opposed to another White House term for the twice-impeached former president.
Trott is just one of a growing list of Michigan and national Republicans who have endorsed Harris, including former executive director of the Michigan Republican Party Gary Reed; former U.S. Reps. Fred Upton, Joe Schwarz; as well as Gerald Ford’s daughter, Susan Ford Bales.
Signs of discord within the ranks of Michigan Republicans became apparent during the Michigan GOP presidential primary in February when 356,150 Republican primary voters cast their ballots against Trump—more than double the margin of votes Biden won Michigan by in 2020.
Former U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz (R-Battle Creek) threw his support behind former State Sen. Curtis Hertel (D-East Lansing) for Congress at the launch of the Republicans and Independents for Hertel Coalition. | Kyle Davidson
“I’ve been a Republican my whole life, but this year, I’m doing everything I can to help elect Kamala Harris as our next President of the United States,” added Trott, who called Harris a strong leader who loves this country, and someone who would serve with integrity in the Oval Office.
“She has shown that her presidency will be about bringing people together to solve real problems, and she will help us turn the page on this dark chapter in our politics and chart a new way forward for America,” said Trott.
Stratton, meanwhile, said Trump only cares about himself and is focused on punishing those who disagree with him.
“The most important part of his record is his cruel disregard for women’s health care and reproductive rights,” she said. “Thanks to Donald Trump, women across the country now live under dangerous abortion bans. … And if he gets back into the White House, he’ll ban abortion nationwide.”
Trump has bragged about the three Supreme Court justices he nominated joining with three others to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, ending a 50-year precedent of federal approval for abortions. That left the decision up to individual states.
Medical professionals and abortion advocates however, say the Trump-connected Project 2025 would seek to initiate a nationwide abortion ban which would overrule state protections like those approved by Michigan voters in 2022.
“Vice President Harris has fought for reproductive freedom for her entire career,” said Stratton. “Since Roe was overturned, she has led the administration’s response to Trump’s abortion bans, even being the first sitting vice president to visit a reproductive health care clinic. When she wins, she is going to protect the right to choose and veto any national abortion ban that Republicans in Congress try to pass.”
Stratton said that more importantly, if Congress were to send Harris a bill codifying the right to reproductive freedom, she would sign it into law.
“This election isn’t just about politics. It’s about decency, it’s about choice, it’s about personal freedom. If you believe in those things, then I hope you’ll join me in supporting Kamala Harris,” she said.
Meanwhile, Reed, who also served as a former aide to Michigan Republican Governors William Milliken and Rick Snyder, will join with Stratton and Bill Rustem, also a former Milliken and Gov. Rick Snyder adviser, at a similar event Wednesday afternoon in East Lansing.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.