Jeff Flake, former U.S. senator from Arizona and ambassador to Turkey, announced Sunday he is endorsing Democrat Kamala Harris for president and encouraged other Republicans to “put country over party” and do the same.
In a video posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, Flake said he cannot support former President Donald Trump, the GOP nominee who tried to overthrow the results of the 2020 election and remain in office.
Flake is now perhaps the most prominent member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to publicly endorse Harris. Another notable Arizona Republican, Mesa Mayor John Giles, also a Latter-day Saint, endorsed the vice president this summer and appeared at the Democratic National Convention.
Another well-known Latter-day Saint politician and anti-Trump nemesis , U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, also has bucked the GOP standard-bearer, but he has not publicly backed Harris.
Flake’s endorsement shouldn’t, however, come as a great surprise. He endorsed Democrat Joe Biden in 2020 and helped launch a “Republicans for Biden” effort. He also immediately denounced the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection attempt by Trump supporters and criticized Trump for his role in fomenting it.
In contrast to comments from Trump, who has referred to America as a “failing nation” at his rallies, Flake said he believes America is “a great country” whose “best days lie ahead.”
“I want to support a candidate for president,” he said, “who believes the same.”
In the video, Flake also appeared to target Trump’s support of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, saying America has “very real enemies abroad.”
“We also have vital and indispensable allies,” Flake said. “I want to support a presidential candidate who understands and appreciates the difference.”
Flake said he served with Harris in the Senate and with her running mate, Tim Walz, in the House, saying they both have “fine character.”
“There is nothing more conservative than putting country over party,” Flake said to conclude his endorsement.
