Former Tarrant County Judge Glenn Whitley, known as one of the state's most prominent Republican leaders, is voting blue in the 2024 elections.
In an interview on Inside Texas Politics, the life-long Republican endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, who is running a tight race against Republican Senator Ted Cruz.
The former judge cited the Jan. 6 insurrection as a key reason for his decision, saying Trump was responsible for the U.S. Capitol takeover–something the former president denies. He also called Trump a 'bully' who disrespects the military and veterans, echoing the sentiments expressed by Dick Cheney and other prominent Republicans who earlier this year announced they were also voting blue.
Throughout the interview, Whitley emphasized his lifelong allegiance to the Republican party, saying his "vote is for Harris as much as it is against Trump."
Regarding Harris, Whitley recognized their differing stances on various issues but said he trusted the vice president to approach such with an open mind. He cited Harris's response to fracking as an example. "I really believe that in '19 she was against that, and she felt like because of environmental concerns that she needed to. But I think she approached it with an open mind," he said. "I can get to a lot of the clean air stuff that I want, and still support fracking."
Withley admitted there are more Republicans who have confided to feel the same. While most may not be able to vote for a Democrat, they told him they are planning to leave the top of the ticket blank and not cast a vote in the presidential and U.S. Senate races.
Whitley only ever endorsed one other Democrat in his life. In 2022 he backed Mike Collier, who was running for Lieutenant Governor against Dan Patrick.
"I know that, what I consider to be the extreme far-right Republicans, will yell and scream, well, he never was a Republican, you know, he was just a RINO (Republican In Name Only)," Whitley said to Inside Texas Politics. "But I've looked at this. And as I've said, Collier was the first Democrat I had ever openly endorsed. And Harris and Allred will be the second and third."
Responding to Whitley's announcement, Senator Ted Cruz blamed what he coined as "Trump derangement syndrome" during a campaign event in Tarrant County on Saturday, as reported by WFAA.
"There are a few people who used to be Republicans who've decided they can't stand Donald Trump and so they're voting for Kamala Harris," Cruz told WFAA. "We saw Liz Cheney come out and say she's voting for Kamala Harris. And I will say there are a handful of people for whom Trump derangement syndrome is a real thing."
In a similar turn of events, Texas Democrat and Houston District Attorney Kim Ogg endorsed Ted Cruz in August, as reported by the Texas Tribune.
"I am endorsing Senator Ted Cruz because he has taken action at a time when Americans want solutions, not excuses about why Democrats and Republicans won't work together," said Ogg to the Texas Tribune, adding that she supports Cruz's interest in cracking down on violent crime, which she said is "bigger than partisanship."
"She's voting for me because she wants a Senator who will stand up and support law enforcement, who will lock up violent criminals and keep them in jail, and who will secure the border," Cruz said to WFAA.
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