KALAMAZOO — Fred Upton, a long serving Republican member of Congress, announced that he has voted for Vice President Kamala Harris. Upton pointed out in a press release that this is the first time he has voted for a Democrat for President. Upton did not vote for President Joe Biden in 2020 despite their longstanding friendship.
“This new era for our politics became violently clear on January 6, 2021; I was there in the Capitol when rioters encouraged by former President Trump stormed the building and tried to overturn the results of a free and fair election,” Upton said in a statement. “I spent time with Capitol police officers, one from my district, who stepped up to make sure that we were safe. I saw this tragedy with my own eyes, and I truly believe that it will go down as one of the darkest moments in the history of our nation. Trump has said that his actions on that day, jeopardizing the peaceful transfer of power, were totally appropriate.”
Upton joins a growing list of Republicans who have abandoned the twice-impeached former President. Along with Upton, former Congressman David Trott and a host of other prominent Michigan Republicans have endorsed Harris for President. They join a national movement of Republicans who are urging voters to join them in supporting Harris and defending the Constitution from Trump. Prominent names include, Liz Cheney, Dick Cheney, former Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger and many others including a vast majority of those who served in the Trump administration.
“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,” Upton continued. “Instead of heeding that advice, we see unhinged behavior not acceptable in most forums almost daily.”
Upton concluded with a damning assessment Trump, “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.”
