This series archives prominent Republicans openly critical of Donald Trump or who have announced publicly they will not vote for him. Tally so far is 125. More to come.
Click here for episode twenty-one. All earlier episodes are linked there.
Today, however, for something different, we list the most prominent Republican groups who have come to the aid of the party – the Democratic Party, that is.
Longtime GOP operatives and officials have formed at least nine political alliances to urge Republicans and others to vote against Donald Trump.
1. The Lincoln Project
Founded in late 2019, this group gained traction by trolling Trump with impressive hard-hitting TV ads run in key battleground states. Leaders include veteran Republican strategists Steve Schmidt, John Weaver, Rick Wilson, Reed Galen and George Conway.
The Project raises funds for advertisements targeting the White House, and also vulnerable Republican senators, including Susan Collins of Maine, Cory Gardner of Colorado and Steve Daines of Montana.
Website: https://lincolnproject.us/
Other links: here, here and here.
2. Republican Voters Against Trump
Launched in May 2020, this group describes itself as “a coalition of Republicans, former Republicans, conservatives, and former Trump voters who can’t support Trump for president this fall”. Leaders include Sarah Longwell, Tim Miller, Mike Murphy and Bill Kristol.
RVAT raises funds for hard-hitting television ads, most of them passionate pleas from disaffected Republicans urging Trump’s demise. At last count, an astonishing 644 of these were online here:
https://rvat.org/#homePageStories
Website: https://rvat.org/
3. Right Side PAC
This is a super PAC founded by veteran Republican operatives Matt Borges and Anthony Scaramucci and launched in June 2020. The group aims to defeat Trump in the 2020 election by targeting Republicans in six key states – Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin – with digital, mail, and telephone campaigns.
Links: here, here and here.
4. 43 Alumni for Biden
More than 200 former staffers of George W Bush (43rd president – get it?) joined to form this super PAC to rally former GWB administration workers against Trump.
Formally announced on 1 July 2020, its stated purpose is to “help restore decency, honor, dignity, and true leadership to the White House.”
Key movers include Karen Kirksey, John Farner, Kristopher Purcell, Michael Brown and Jennifer Millikin.
Website: https://43alumniforjoebiden.com/
Other links: here, here and here.
5. Republicans for the Rule of Law
Republicans for the Rule of Law is dedicated to defending US legal institutions and upholding the rule of law. They believe the laws should apply equally to everyone. They believe in fidelity to the Constitution, transparency and the truth.
Key people include Chris Truax, Sarah Longwell, Tim Miller, Charles Fried, Rick Hall, Peter Rusthoven, David B. Waller and Wendell Willkie II.
Website: https://www.ruleoflawrepublicans.com/
Other links: here, here and here.
6. Operation Grant
Named after President Ulysses S. Grant, this group was launched by Ohioan Republicans in August 2020 to mobilize GOP voters in Ohio against Trump in November. Leaders are prominent Republican office holders – Phil Heimlich, Chris Gagin, Roger Synenberg, Chris Gibbs and Michael Anne Johnson.
Organisers assert: “Trump has routinely evaded the call to rise to the moment and lead this great nation ... After the Civil War, President Grant rose to the moment to unite a nation most divided. Ohioans who wish to preserve our republic will rise to the moment, too.”
Website: www.OperationGrant.org
Other links: here and here.
7. Former Republican National Security Officials for Biden
This group comprises officials and former officials within the national security sector, most of whom served under Republican presidents Reagan, Bush senior, Bush junior and/or Trump.
They have published a ten-point statement showing why they believe Trump has failed. The statement includes:
“Donald Trump has dishonored the office of the presidency. Trump engages in childish name-calling, mocks the disabled, belittles women, persistently lies, peddles baseless conspiracy theories, and continually embarrasses Americans in the eyes of the world.”
It is signed by 75 prominent Republicans, including Paul Rosenzweig, Jim Leach, Ken Wainstein and Robert Blackwill.
Links: here, here and here.
8. The Bravery Project
Led by former GOP Congressman and Trump’s primary challenger Joe Walsh (See episode ten here) the Bravery Project was launched in July. The website declares: “We’re conservatives and Independents standing up and choosing to be brave by publicly declaring that Donald Trump and his enablers don’t represent us – that Trumpism is destroying this country.”
Website: https://thebraveryproject.com/
Link: here.
9. Checks and Balances
Conservative and libertarian attorneys formed this group in November 2018 in response to Trump’s attacks on the judicial system, the Justice Department and the media.
Key people include George Conway, Tom Ridge, John Bellinger and Peter Keisler – all quoted previously in this series. On 10 October 2019, the group released a legal justification for an "expeditious" impeachment inquiry into Trump.
Website: https://checks-and-balances.org/about/
Links: here and here.
To be continued...