In a stunning move that has sent shockwaves through the Republican Party, former Vice President Dick Cheney has announced he will vote for Kamala Harris in the 2024 US presidential election.
Cheney, a lifelong Republican and influential conservative figure, made the disclosure through his daughter, former Rep. Liz Cheney, who is also backing Harris.
“Dick Cheney will be voting for Kamala Harris,” Liz declared during an interview at the Texas Tribune Festival, eliciting cheers from the audience.
The elder Cheney, who served under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009, later confirmed his endorsement in a statement, emphasizing that Trump “can never be trusted with power again.”
Cheney’s decision to support the Democratic candidate marks a historic break from his party and a firm stance against former President Donald Trump, whom he has criticized as a “threat to our republic.”
In a 2022 campaign ad for Liz Cheney, Dick Cheney labeled Trump a “coward” for attempting to “steal the last election through deceit and violence to maintain power after being rejected by voters.”
The Cheney family’s endorsement of Harris carries significant weight, particularly among staunch conservatives who may be hesitant to support Trump.
Liz Cheney, who lost her Wyoming congressional seat to a Trump-backed challenger in 2022, has been a vocal critic of the former president since the January 6 attack on the Capitol.
Liz Cheney earlier in the week stressed that voters in swing states cannot afford to write in candidates. “Given the threat posed by Donald Trump, I will not be casting my ballot for him; instead, I will be supporting Kamala Harris,” she expressed.
Harris’s campaign chair, Jen O’Malley Dillon, praised the Cheneys’ decision, stating, “The vice president is honored to have the backing of Vice President Cheney and greatly admires his bravery in choosing country over party.”
The Cheneys’ endorsement of Harris underscores the deep divisions within the Republican Party over Trump’s influence, as high-profile figures continue to break ranks ahead of a contentious presidential race.
