Republican Fred Upton endorses Democrat Kamala Harris for president

KALAMAZOO, MI — Longtime Republican and former congressman, Fred Upton, has endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris for president.

Upton held a virtual press conference at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, to talk about his support for Vice President Harris.

“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,” Upton said in a statement Tuesday.

“The American public wants their elected officials to solve problems — not spin in circles in stalemates. I am confident Vice President Harris will work to bring people together, strengthen our economy, and get things done for all Americans,” Upton said in a statement.

Upton, of St. Joseph, joined Michigan Republicans for Harris-Walz co-chair and former Congressman Dave Trott, calling on fellow Republicans to back Harris and warn of the threat of a second Trump term.

“With Trump in charge, politics was more personal, more angry and more divided than ever before,” Upton said during the call.

It became harder to find solutions while Trump was in power, Upton said.

Upton was present in the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and witnessed first hand the violence of people trying to co-opt the legitimate counting of electoral votes.

“That day was a tragedy for our democracy and Donald Trump is wrong to claim that everything he did was ‘totally appropriate’ when he directly jeopardized the peaceful transition from one administration to the next. He is unfit to serve as commander in chief again,” Upton said.

He saw the tragedy unfold, he said, which he sees as one of the darkest moments in the nation’s history.

“If he loses, he’ll spread another big lie, and that could lead to more political violence,” Upton said.

Upton was one of 10 House Republicans to vote in favor of impeaching Trump in 2022 for inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Upton was first elected in 1986 and served as Southwest Michigan’s congressman for 18 terms. He did not seek reelection in 2022.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Michigan, according to his biography.

Upton joins a growing list of Michigan and national Republicans who are endorsing Vice President Harris, according to the Harris campaign. Other endorsements include Susan Ford Bales, daughter of former President and Michigan Congressman Gerald Ford; former Republican Congressman Joe Schwarz; Jim Murray; Bill Nowling and Jimmy Greene, the campaign said.

“More than 30 former GOP members of Congress have now publicly stated that they will not support the former president and will vote for VP Harris. I am proud to add my name to that list, as I have already cast my ballot for Vice President Kamala Harris to be our next president of the United States,” Upton said.

Upton said he has never voted for a Democrat for president, and never thought he would, until now. He said he is glad to be working to send Harris to the White House, and it’s not an option to do nothing.

“I know that Harris has the best interest of the American people at heart,” Upton said.

Trott represented Michigan’s 11th District in Congress from 2017 through 2019.

Trott said this is not a normal election, stressing the importance of the 2024 race.

“Donald Trump has proven again and again he is wholly unfit to be president,” Trott said.

Harris is planning a campaign rally in Kalamazoo Saturday, Oct. 24. Upton said he is not planning to be at the event.

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