Another former Republican Michigan Congressman is abandoning Donald Trump

Former US Rep. Fred Upton, a Republican who represented Southwest Michigan’s 6th Congressional District, is throwing his support behind Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.

MICHIGAN—The list of current and former Republican lawmakers who are supporting Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign is continuing to grow with a new endorsement announced this week from former Republican Michigan Congressman Fred Upton.

Upton, who represented Southwest Michigan’s 6th Congressional District from 1987 to 2023, released a statement on Thursday noting that he has already voted for Harris—marking the first time that he’s ever voted for the Democratic nominee for the president of the United States.

“I don’t believe I’ve missed a vote in Michigan in the 52 years I’ve been eligible to vote,” Upton said. “And I’ve not been afraid to split my ballot from time to time but have never voted for a Democrat for president, until now. It is often said that, ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’ And, let’s face it—the whole world seems on fire today.”

So far, more than 30 former Republican members of Congress, including former US Reps. Dave Trott and Joe Schwarz (R-Michigan), have stated they will not support ex-President Donald Trump’s campaign and will instead vote—or already have voted—for the Democratic ticket. 

Upton said he was “proud” to add his name to that list. 

“Civility and governing should rule the day—not nasty and divisive attacks,” Upton said in a statement announcing the endorsement. “The American public wants their elected officials to solve problems—not spin in circles in stalemates. I am confident Vice President Harris will work to bring people together, strengthen our economy, and get things done for all Americans.”

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WATCH: Former US Rep. Dave Trott (R-Michigan) has been a registered Republican for most of his life. But with Donald Trump at the top of the ticket, he said he can no longer trust Republicans to look out for Michiganders’ best interests.

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In a recent interview with The ‘Gander, Trott shared that he no longer recognizes the Republican Party—namely because right-wing extremists have “turned the party into more of a cult.”

“And not only with Trump as their leader, but so many other people in the party today just take extreme positions on issues,” he said. “I probably would not consider myself a Republican today. Maybe I will become a Republican again in the future but, at the moment, I’m not a Republican.”

Upton was at the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 and witnessed the violence that unfolded due to Trump’s actions—or inaction—throughout the course of the afternoon. In his endorsement, he said he also “spent time with the brave police” who were trying to defend the building.

“That day was a tragedy for our democracy and Donald Trump is wrong to claim that everything he did was ‘totally appropriate’ when he directly jeopardized the peaceful transition from one administration to the next,” Upton said. “He is unfit to serve as commander in chief again.”

Upton’s endorsement follows a forum in Royal Oak on Monday, where former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney urged Michiganders to vote for Harris this year. Ex-President Gerald Ford’s daughter, Susan Ford Bales, also recently announced her support for Harris. 

READ MORE: Ex-Republican congressman says Trump turned the party into a ‘cult’

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