ICYMI: Republicans Put Country Ahead of Party, Support Down Ballot Democrats

Phoenix, Ariz - Last week, Arizona Legislative Democrats picked up support from a key constituency: lifelong Republicans. In an op-ed and at canvass launches, lifelong Republicans spoke out in support of putting the good of our communities and our country ahead of politics. 

First, fifth-generation Arizonan, member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and lifelong Republican Bill Richardson penned an op-ed expressing his opposition to the current Republican Party and why he will vote for Democrats. In the op-ed, he writes “As a Mormon and a Republican, I can only support candidates that represent my values. That’s why I no longer vote the party line.” 

Then, on Saturday, October 19, former Republican Congressman Joe Walsh and The Union, an offshoot of the Lincoln Project, helped launch two canvasses in Legislative District 13 alongside Democratic House candidates Brandy Reese and Nicholas Gonzales. 

“As a lifelong Republican, not only am I all in supporting the Kamala Harris/Tim Walz ticket, but I’m all in supporting Democrats up and down the ballot because democracy is on the ballot,” said former Congressman Joe Walsh (R-IL). “The Republican Party has become the MAGA party, and MAGA is all about election denialism, undermining trust in our institutions, and threatening the peaceful transfer of power. MAGA must be defeated, so every Republican must be defeated. I may disagree with many Democratic candidates on certain policies, but defending our democracy is more important than policy differences right now. And I know that Democrats will always defend our democracy and the rule of law. So I’m all in helping get Democrats elected. Country first. That’s why we must flip the Arizona state legislature this November.”