Sen. Robert Cowles
(via legislative Facebook)
Republican State Sen. Rob Cowles announced on Thursday that he will vote for Vice President Kamala Harris over former President Donald Trump, saying Trump “has to be defeated.”
Cowles has represented parts of the Green Bay area for over 40 years in the state Legislature, starting with a stint in the Assembly from 1982 through 1986 before winning a special election for the state Senate in 1987. He decided to retire at the end of his current four-year term this year rather than run for reelection.
In an interview on the Civic Media show “Rational Revolution,” Cowles said about publicly announcing his decision that he “probably should’ve done this sooner,” but he was concerned about “blowback and public safety.”
“I’m going to be ready for that. I really think this is one of the most important things I’ve done and hopefully people will accept that and listen to me…,” Cowles said. “We have to make a change here and Trump has to be defeated and we have to protect the Constitution and the country will go on, even with some liberal things that Harris might do.”
Cowles said the 2020 election wasn’t stolen, there is no evidence it was stolen and Trump’s continued claims otherwise were a “check” against him. He said he believes Trump is a “totalitarian” and “very much a fascist.”
Cowles’ endorsement comes as Harris has been publicly trying to gain the support of Republicans and independents. She has campaigned with former Republican U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney in Wisconsin, saying people need to put “country over party.”
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