The Daily Populous Thursday October 24th, 2024 evening edition
Authored by newsweek.com and submitted by plz-let-me-in

Former U.S. representative Fred Upton, a West Michigan Republican, has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race in an interview with The Detroit News.

In the report, Upton criticized his party's nominee, former President Donald Trump, calling him "divisive" and "unhinged," and stating that Trump "has not changed his colors."

Upton expressed frustration with Trump's focus on past election grievances and his controversial comments, saying, "We don't need this chaos. We need to move forward."

Upton, who served 18 terms in the House for two southwest Michigan districts, has joined other high-profile Republicans who have endorsed Harris, including former Vice President Dick Cheney and former Arizona Senator Jeff Flake. Meanwhile, some others have heavily criticized Trump and refused to endorse him, but have not supported Harris, including former presidential candidate Mitt Romney and Trump's own Vice President Mike Pence.

Former Michigan Representative Fred Upton in Washington D.C., May 19, 2022. Upton has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race in an interview with The Detroit News. Former Michigan Representative Fred Upton in Washington D.C., May 19, 2022. Upton has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race in an interview with The Detroit News. Getty Images/Anna Moneymaker

"Watching Trump day after day, he's ignored the advice of many senior, respected Republicans to stay on the issues," Upton told The Detroit News.

"Instead, he's still talking about the election being stolen, trashing women left and right. He's just totally unhinged. We don't need this chaos. We need to move forward, and that's why I'm where I am."

Upton was one of the 10 Republican representatives who voted in 2021 to impeach Trump for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot.

Newsweek has contacted the campaigns of Trump and Harris via email for comment.

Upton spoke on Wednesday alongside Democratic vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz—they served in the House together between 2007 and 2019—where he talked about the importance of bipartisanship.

"They (the Democratic party) want to get things done, and the only way to get that to happen is to work on a bipartisan basis. I'm convinced that Harris has more ability to do that than Trump," Upton said, adding that Harris already supports the Senate's bipartisan package on immigration that Trump was accused of killing earlier this year.

"I'm convinced that those of us who are willing to stand up now will be at the table as we try to chart a path to resolve these issues. They are too important to ignore. ... At some point, the country has to come ahead of party, and that's what this is all about."

No living president, vice president, presidential candidate, or vice presidential candidate for either the Democratic or Republican party has endorsed Trump in 2024.

As well as Cheney, Harris has received endorsements from President Joe Biden, former presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter, and former Vice President Al Gore.

plz-let-me-in on October 24th, 2024 at 12:59 UTC »

This is Republican former US Representative Fred Upton, who was one of the few Republicans in the House to vote to impeach Trump for his role in Jan 6.

> “I don’t believe l’ve missed a vote in Michigan in the 52 years I’ve been eligible to vote. 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,” said Upton. “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.”

> “I have already cast my ballot for Vice President Kamala Harris to be our next president of the United States,” he said.

> “Time and time again respected senior national Republicans have urged our former president to focus on governing rather than personal attacks, mistruths, and continued false 2020 election claims,” said Upton. “Instead of heeding that advice, we see unhinged behavior not acceptable in most forums almost daily.”

He is a pretty important figure in Michigan politics, and this endorsement may actually help make a difference in Michigan. Thank you for being one of the very few Republicans to have a spine to stand up against Donald Trump.

Wolverine-75009 on October 24th, 2024 at 12:58 UTC »

Shawn Reilly, the mayor of Waukesha, Wisconsin, a key Republican stronghold said he will vote for Harris.

monarosy8 on October 24th, 2024 at 12:53 UTC »

Trump's tendency to vilify opponents and claim that anyone who does not support him is part of an enemy within" has been widely criticized as divisve and authoritarian. His rhetoric not only targets political adversaries but also undermines confidence in democratic systems,threatening the integrity of U.S. governance.