Vice President Kamala Harris is set to campaign in several critical “blue wall” suburban battleground states next week, partnering with former Republican Representative Liz Cheney.
Cheney, once a rising star in the GOP, has committed to preventing former President Donald Trump from returning to power following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
The Harris-Cheney collaboration will feature a series of “moderated conversations” aimed at suburban voters in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, as announced by the Harris campaign. These events will be moderated by prominent Republican strategist Sarah Longwell, publisher of *The Bulwark*, and conservative radio host Charlie Sykes.
Duo will address voters in Chester County, Philadelphia, Oakland County, Detroit, and Waukesha County, Milwaukee. The Milwaukee event will occur the day before early in-person voting begins in Wisconsin. The Harris campaign targets disenchanted Republican voters who may hesitate to support Trump in the upcoming election.
This announcement follows Cheney’s recent appearance in Ripon, Wisconsin, where she campaigned for Harris, marking her as the Democratic nominee’s most notable conservative supporter. The daughter of former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney, Liz Cheney previously held a leadership position within the House Republican caucus.
Notably, Cheney was among the ten House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump in early 2021 for inciting the January 6th riot, an act that aimed to disrupt the certification of President Biden’s Electoral College victory. In response to her stance, Cheney faced backlash from Trump and his supporters, ultimately removing her from her leadership role.
Cheney, who has consistently emphasised the importance of defending democracy and prioritising the country over party loyalty, was one of just two Republicans on the select committee investigating the January 6th events. In 2022, she lost her GOP congressional primary in Wyoming to Harriet Hageman, a Trump-endorsed candidate.
At a recent Duke University in North Carolina event, Cheney announced her intention to vote for Harris in the upcoming presidential election. Cheney’s father also publicly endorsed Harris, reinforcing her decision. Earlier this month, she issued a stark warning about the dangers posed by Trump, stating that “our republic faces a threat unlike any we have faced before” and asserting that he “can never be trusted with power again.”
Cheney characterised Trump as “petty,” “vindictive,” and “cruel,” asserting that he is unfit to lead the nation. Meanwhile, Harris has garnered support from over 200 alums of both Bush administrations and prominent Republicans like former Senator John McCain and Mitt Romney.
At a Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania campaign event, Harris joined forces with other high-profile anti-Trump Republicans, including former Representative Adam Kinzinger, to court GOP voters. In response, Trump campaign spokesman Kush Desai criticised the collaboration, claiming it highlights “former ‘Republicans’ of the past” seeking relevance by supporting Harris, whom he accused of promoting “unlimited illegal immigration, rising prices, and endless wars.”
Desai concluded, “Fortunately, as with any other theatrical prop, they’re all going to be tossed aside the moment they stop being useful for Democrats — which will be November 5th, when Pennsylvanians re-elect President Trump.”
