The Harris campaign has recently gained endorsements from two typically conservative figures in Blue wall battleground states, signaling potential weaknesses for Trump within the Republican electorate in the midwestern states.
Waukesha Mayor Shawn Reilly, who recently changed his party affiliation from Republican to independent, publicly announced his support for Vice President Kamala Harris. Reilly emphasized the importance of the upcoming election, stating that he felt compelled to share his endorsement to encourage other Wisconsinites who care about the country to do the same.
Former Republican Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan, who was one of the 10 House Republicans to vote to impeach Trump following the Capitol riot, is also set to endorse Harris. Upton's decision not to seek reelection in early 2022 further underscores the shifting dynamics within the Republican Party.
The Harris campaign points to significant indicators of Trump's potential vulnerabilities with the Republican electorate in the midwestern states. For instance, in the Michigan GOP presidential primary in February, over 356,000 Republican voters cast their ballots against Trump. This number is more than double the margin by which Joe Biden won Michigan in the 2020 election.
