Republicans opposing Donald Trump, 2016

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Elected officials' positions on Donald Trump (2016)

* * *

Federal:
Republicans and their declared positions on Donald Trump • Republicans supporting Donald Trump • Republicans opposing Donald Trump

* * *

State and local:
Republican state legislators changing their party to protest Donald Trump • Republican local officials and their declared positions on Donald Trump

* * *

Republican reactions to 2005 Trump tape

See also: Republicans and their declared positions on Donald Trump

This page tracked Republican lawmakers who openly declared their opposition to Trump in 2016.

# Opposition[edit]

A gray background indicates that the senator or representative was identified as vulnerable going into the 2016 election by Ballotpedia. More information about Ballotpedia's battleground races and races to watch can be found here.
An (*) indicates that the member of Congress did not attend the Republican National Convention July 18-21, 2016, in Cleveland, Ohio.

Members of Congress who did not endorse or vote for Trump

Name  | State  | First elected  | Date  | Statement
Rep. Justin Amash | Michigan's 3rd Congressional District | 2010 | February 26, 2016 | According to Reason.com, Amash said, "Donald Trump, on the other hand, is genuinely terrifying and 'should go back to The Apprentice.'"[1]
*Rep. Carlos Curbelo | Florida's 26th Congressional District | 2014 | February 29, 2016 | According to The Wall Street Journal, "Curbelo said he would seek a third-party candidate to support or back a write-in candidate rather than Mr. Trump. On Twitter, Mr. Curbelo said Mr. Trump reminds him most of former Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez." Curbelo said, "The party may blow up. You’re going to lose the four in 10 who say they’ll never vote for him. It would be tough to support at the national level a Republican Party that has Donald Trump as its leader. This man does things and says things that I teach my six- and three-year-olds not to say. I could never look them in the eye and tell them that I support someone so crass and insulting and offensive to lead the greatest nation in the world."[2]
*Rep. Bob Dold | Illinois' 10th Congressional District | 2014 | February 22, 2016 | "For me, it’s personal. [Trump’s] comments about women, his comments about minorities, about Latinos — for me that’s not a guy I would support."[3]
Sen. Susan Collins | Maine | 1996 | August 8, 2016 | “I will not be voting for Donald Trump for president. This is not a decision I make lightly, for I am a lifelong Republican. But Donald Trump does not reflect historical Republican values nor the inclusive approach to governing that is critical to healing the divisions in our country."[4] In May 2016, Collins had qualified her opposition to Trump, saying, "if he’s going to build that wall that he keeps talking about, he’s going to have to mend a lot of fences. ... It will be interesting to see whether he changes his style, he starts acting more presidential, and whether he brings people together. ...I have always supported the Republican nominee for president, and I suspect I would do so this year, but I do want see what Donald Trump does from here on out."[5]
*Sen. Lindsey Graham | South Carolina | 2002 | May 6, 2016

March 2, 2016 | "I absolutely will not support Hillary Clinton for President. She represents the third term of Barack Obama, and our nation cannot afford to continue those failed policies at home or abroad. I also cannot in good conscience support Donald Trump because I do not believe he is a reliable Republican conservative nor has he displayed the judgment and temperament to serve as Commander in Chief."[6]

"We're going to lose. You'll never convince me that Donald Trump is the answer to the problem we have with Hispanics. It will tear the party apart, it will divide conservatism, and we're gonna lose to Hillary Clinton and have the third term of Barack Obama. ... Here's what I want to tell people when we lose to Hillary: I told you that the immigration issue is killing us. We're doubling down on the problem we have with Hispanics. We went from self-deportation to forced deportation. Have you ever heard the statement too big to fail? We're too stubborn to win. So here's what I'm going to say in November when we lose: I told you so."[7]

Rep. Reid Ribble | Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District | 2010 | December 11, 2015 | "I am not obligated to support a bad candidate from any party. I will not support Donald Trump for president of the United States, no matter what the circumstances. ... There’s a natural concern, particularly among members of the party in leadership roles: You want to be cautious about stating opinions about Mr. Trump without making statements about Mr. Trump’s supporters. I don’t want to offend anyone that’s supporting Mr. Trump. They’ve got their own reasons for supporting him. I’ve got my reasons for not."[8]
Rep. Scott Rigell | Virginia's 2nd Congressional District | 2010 | August 5, 2016

March 1, 2016 | Rigell said that he would vote for Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson. “I’ve always said I will not vote for Donald Trump and I will not vote for Hillary Clinton. I’m going to vote for the Libertarian candidate.” Rigell is not seeking reelection.[9]

"Never before have I grabbed a word like catastrophic to make a political point. It’s like pulling a fire alarm; if you do it, there had better be a fire. There is a fire and it’s raging within our Republican party. I am convinced that if Donald Trump becomes our nominee, the harm done to our party would be nothing short of catastrophic. I reject Trump as our nominee based on his judgement, temperament and character, all of which point to a reckless, embarrassing and ultimately dangerous presidency."[10][11]

Sen. Ben Sasse | Nebraska | 2014 | May 4, 2016

February 28, 2016 | In a Facebook post, Sasse wrote that Americans deserve better than Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump as president. He wrote, "They deserve better. They deserve a Congress that tackles the biggest policy problems facing the nation. And they deserve a president who knows that his or her job is not to 'reign,' but to serve as commander-in-chief and to 'faithfully execute' the laws – not to claim imperial powers to rewrite them with his pen and phone."[12]

"If Donald Trump becomes the Republican nominee, my expectation is that I will look for some third candidate – a conservative option, a Constitutionalist."[13][14]

*Rep. Richard Hanna | New York's 22nd Congressional District | 2010 | August 2, 2016

March 29, 2016 | Hanna was the first member of Congress to publicly declare he would vote for Hillary Clinton. He wrote in an op-ed, "In his latest foray of insults, Mr. Trump has attacked the parents of a slain U.S. soldier. Where do we draw the line? I thought it would have been when he alleged that U.S. Sen. John McCain was not a war hero because he was caught. Or the countless other insults he's proudly lobbed from behind the Republican presidential podium. For me, it is not enough to simply denounce his comments: He is unfit to serve our party and cannot lead this country." Hanna is not seeking reelection.[15]

When asked if he would support Donald Trump or Ted Cruz, Hanna replied, “I’m going to say this without equivocation: No. ... Do you really want these two men, one [Cruz] who said he would turn the Middle East to glass or another [Trump] who thinks it's even rational to try to deport 11 million people, to build a wall and make the Mexicans pay for it?”[16]

*Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen | Florida's 27th Congressional District | 1988 | May 6, 2016 | "I will work with whomever is chosen by the American people to serve as president, because I deeply respect the American constitutional system. In this election, I do not support either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton."[17]
*Sen. Mark Kirk | Illinois | 2010 | June 7, 2016

March 2016 | “I have spent my life building bridges and tearing down barriers–not building walls. That’s why I find Donald Trump’s belief that an American-born judge of Mexican descent is incapable of fairly presiding over his case is not only dead wrong, it is un-American. As the Presidential campaign progressed, I was hoping the rhetoric would tone down and reflect a campaign that was inclusive, thoughtful and principled. While I oppose the Democratic nominee, Donald Trump’s latest statements, in context with past attacks on Hispanics, women and the disabled like me, make it certain that I cannot and will not support my party’s nominee for President regardless of the political impact on my candidacy or the Republican Party. It is absolutely essential that we are guided by a commander-in-chief with a responsible and proper temperament, discretion and judgment. Our President must be fit to command the most powerful military the world has ever seen, including an arsenal of thousands of nuclear weapons. After much consideration, I have concluded that Donald Trump has not demonstrated the temperament necessary to assume the greatest office in the world.”[18]

Kirk said he "certainly would" support Trump, if he is the party’s nominee.[19]

An (*) indicates that the governor did not attend the Republican National Convention July 18-21, 2016, in Cleveland, Ohio.

Governors who will not endorse or vote for Trump

Name  | State  | First elected  | Date  | Statement
*Gov. Charlie Baker | Massachusetts | 2014 | March 2, 2016 | "I’m not going to vote for him [Trump] in November."[20]
*Gov. Bruce Rauner | Illinois | 2014 | May 6, 2016 | According to Fortune, "[A] member of Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration says the Republican governor will not endorse Donald Trump as the GOP standard-bearer in the November election."[21]
*Gov. John Kasich | Ohio | 2010 | June 9, 2016 | "Why would I feel compelled to support someone whose positions I kind of fundamentally disagree with? ... Mr. Trump called me and said, 'What are you going to do to support me?' and I said, 'We're like two companies. We have a difference vision, a different value system, and a different objective,' So its pretty hard to put that together. ... I've said from the beginning that if somebody came into Ohio and they were a divider, that they couldn't win the state. It's not on me as to how Donald Trump does in Ohio. It's on him. If you're going to insult Hispanics, if you're going to turn off minorities, if you're going to, you know, have a reckless suggestions on foreign policy, that's not good."[22]
*Gov. Larry Hogan | Maryland | 2014 | June 15, 2016

March 24, 2016 | “No, I don’t plan to [vote for Trump]. I guess when I get behind the curtain I’ll have to figure it out. Maybe write someone in. I’m not sure.”[23]

According to the Associated Press, "Hogan doesn’t know who he’d vote for," but he is "not a Trump fan." He also said that Trump "should not represent the party in the general election."[24]

Republicans who have served in Republican presidential administrations and will not endorse Trump

Name  | Bio  | Date  | Statement
Donald B. Ayer | Deputy attorney general under George H.W. Bush | August 8, 2016 | Ayer cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him. The letter stated that Trump “fundamentally...lacks the character, values, and experience to be President." They continued, “He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. ... None of us will vote for Donald Trump.”[25]
Robert Blackwill | Deputy national security advisor and U.S. ambassador to India under President George W. Bush | August 10, 2016 | Blackwill was listed on the website of Together for America, a group focused on leading the Clinton campaign's "recruitment and outreach to the growing number of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.”[26] Blackwill also cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him.[25]
Michael Chertoff | Secretary of homeland security under George W. Bush | August 8, 2016 | Chertoff cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him. The letter stated that Trump “fundamentally...lacks the character, values, and experience to be President." They continued, “He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. ... None of us will vote for Donald Trump.”[25]
Jim Cicconi | Special assistant to the president and special assistant to the chief of staff for President Ronald Reagan (1981-1985); Assistant to the president and deputy to the chief of staff for President George H.W. Bush (1989-1990) | August 10, 2016 | Cicconi was listed on the website of Together for America, a group focused on leading the Clinton campaign's "recruitment and outreach to the growing number of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.”[26]
Eliot A. Cohen | Counselor of the Department of State under George W. Bush | August 8, 2016 | Cohen cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him. The letter stated that Trump “fundamentally...lacks the character, values, and experience to be President." They continued, “He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. ... None of us will vote for Donald Trump.”[25]
Michael Donley | Secretary of the Air Force and director of Administration and Management in the Office of the Secretary of Defense under George W. Bush | August 10, 2016 | Donley was listed on the website of Together for America, a group focused on leading the Clinton campaign's "recruitment and outreach to the growing number of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.”[26]
Eric Edelman | Under secretary of defense for policy under George W. Bush | August 8, 2016 | Edelman cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him. The letter stated that Trump “fundamentally...lacks the character, values, and experience to be President." They continued, “He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. ... None of us will vote for Donald Trump.”[25]
Gary Edson | Deputy national security advisor under George W. Bush | August 8, 2016 | Edson cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him. The letter stated that Trump “fundamentally...lacks the character, values, and experience to be President." They continued, “He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. ... None of us will vote for Donald Trump.”[25]
Doug Elmets | Spokesperson and speechwriter for Ronald Reagan | August 10, 2016 | Elmets was listed on the website of Together for America, a group focused on leading the Clinton campaign's "recruitment and outreach to the growing number of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.”[26]
Scott Evertz | Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy under George W. Bush | August 10, 2016 | Evertz was listed on the website of Together for America, a group focused on leading the Clinton campaign's "recruitment and outreach to the growing number of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.”[26]
Richard Falkenrath | Deputy homeland security advisor under George W. Bush | August 8, 2016 | Falkenrath cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him. The letter stated that Trump “fundamentally...lacks the character, values, and experience to be President." They continued, “He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. ... None of us will vote for Donald Trump.”[25]
Richard Fontaine | Associate director for Near East Affairs, National Security Council, under George W. Bush | August 8, 2016 | Fontaine cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him. The letter stated that Trump “fundamentally...lacks the character, values, and experience to be President." They continued, “He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. ... None of us will vote for Donald Trump.”[25]
Jendayi Frazer | U.S. ambassador to South Africa and assistant secretary of state for African affairs under George W. Bush | August 8, 2016 | Frazer cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him. The letter stated that Trump “fundamentally...lacks the character, values, and experience to be President." They continued, “He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. ... None of us will vote for Donald Trump.”[25]
Fred T. Goldberg, Jr. | Assistant secretary of the U.S. Treasury for Tax Policy and commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service under George H.W. Bush | August 10, 2016 | Goldberg was listed on the website of Together for America, a group focused on leading the Clinton campaign's "recruitment and outreach to the growing number of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.”[26]
Michael Green | Senior director for Asia, National Security Council, under George W. Bush | August 8, 2016 | Green cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him. The letter stated that Trump “fundamentally...lacks the character, values, and experience to be President." They continued, “He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. ... None of us will vote for Donald Trump.”[25]
David A. Gross | U.S. coordinator for international Communications and Information Policy under George W. Bush | August 10, 2016 | Gross was listed on the website of Together for America, a group focused on leading the Clinton campaign's "recruitment and outreach to the growing number of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.”[26]
Brian Gunderson | Chief of staff under Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice | August 8, 2016 | Gunderson cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him. The letter stated that Trump “fundamentally...lacks the character, values, and experience to be President." They continued, “He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. ... None of us will vote for Donald Trump.”[25]
Carlos M. Gutierrez | U.S. secretary of commerce under George W. Bush | August 10, 2016 | Gutierrez was listed on the website of Together for America, a group focused on leading the Clinton campaign's "recruitment and outreach to the growing number of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.”[26]
John Hillen | Assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs under George W. Bush | August 8, 2016 | Hillen cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him. The letter stated that Trump “fundamentally...lacks the character, values, and experience to be President." They continued, “He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. ... None of us will vote for Donald Trump.”[25]
Carla Hills | U.S. trade representative under George H.W. Bush and secretary of housing and urban development under Gerald Ford | August 8, 2016 | Hills cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him. The letter stated that Trump “fundamentally...lacks the character, values, and experience to be President." They continued, “He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. ... None of us will vote for Donald Trump.”[25]
Richard Holwill | U.S. Department of State official under Ronald Reagan | August 10, 2016 | Holwill was listed on the website of Together for America, a group focused on leading the Clinton campaign's "recruitment and outreach to the growing number of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.”[26]
Reuben Jeffery, III | Under secretary of state for economic energy and agricultural affairs and member of the National Security Council under George W. Bush | August 8, 2016 | Jeffery cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him. The letter stated that Trump “fundamentally...lacks the character, values, and experience to be President." They continued, “He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. ... None of us will vote for Donald Trump.”[25]
Ted Kassinger | Deputy secretary of commerce under George W. Bush | August 8, 2016 | Kassinger cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him. The letter stated that Trump “fundamentally...lacks the character, values, and experience to be President." They continued, “He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. ... None of us will vote for Donald Trump.”[25]
David Kramer | Assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights, and labor under George W. Bush | August 8, 2016 | Kramer cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him. The letter stated that Trump “fundamentally...lacks the character, values, and experience to be President." They continued, “He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. ... None of us will vote for Donald Trump.”[25]
James Kunder | Assistant administrator for Asia and the Near East at USAID under George W. Bush | August 10, 2016 | Kunder was listed on the website of Together for America, a group focused on leading the Clinton campaign's "recruitment and outreach to the growing number of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.”[26]
James Langdon | Chairman of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board under George W. Bush | August 8, 2016 | Langdon cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him. The letter stated that Trump “fundamentally...lacks the character, values, and experience to be President." They continued, “He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. ... None of us will vote for Donald Trump.”[25]
Frank Lavin | White House political director under Ronald Reagan and U.S. ambassador to Singapore and under secretary of commerce under George W. Bush | August 10, 2016 | Lavin was listed on the website of Together for America, a group focused on leading the Clinton campaign's "recruitment and outreach to the growing number of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.”[26]
Mary Beth Long | Assistant secretary of state for international security affairs under George W. Bush | August 8, 2016 | Long cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him. The letter stated that Trump “fundamentally...lacks the character, values, and experience to be President." They continued, “He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. ... None of us will vote for Donald Trump.”[25]
Robert McCallum | U.S. ambassador to Australia under George W. Bush | August 8, 2016 | McCallum cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him. The letter stated that Trump “fundamentally...lacks the character, values, and experience to be President." They continued, “He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. ... None of us will vote for Donald Trump.”[25]
Alberto Mora | General counsel of the Navy under George W. Bush | August 10, 2016 | Mora was listed on the website of Together for America, a group focused on leading the Clinton campaign's "recruitment and outreach to the growing number of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.”[26]
Connie Morella | U.S. ambassador to the OECD under George W. Bush | August 10, 2016 | Morella was listed on the website of Together for America, a group focused on leading the Clinton campaign's "recruitment and outreach to the growing number of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.”[26]
John Negroponte | Deputy national security advisor under Ronald Reagan and director of national intelligence and deputy secretary of state under George W. Bush | August 10, 2016 | Negroponte was listed on the website of Together for America, a group focused on leading the Clinton campaign's "recruitment and outreach to the growing number of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.”[26] Negroponte also cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him.[25]
Henry M. Paulson, Jr. | U.S. secretary of the treasury under George W. Bush | August 10, 2016 | Paulson was listed on the website of Together for America, a group focused on leading the Clinton campaign's "recruitment and outreach to the growing number of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.”[26]
William K. Reilly | EPA administrator under George W. Bush | August 10, 2016 | Reilly was listed on the website of Together for America, a group focused on leading the Clinton campaign's "recruitment and outreach to the growing number of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.”[26]
Tom Ridge | Secretary of homeland security under George W. Bush and former Republican governor of Pennsylvania | August 8, 2016 | Ridge cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him. The letter stated that Trump “fundamentally...lacks the character, values, and experience to be President." They continued, “He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. ... None of us will vote for Donald Trump.”[25]
William Ruckelshaus | EPA administrator under Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon | August 10, 2016 | Ruckelshaus was listed on the website of Together for America, a group focused on leading the Clinton campaign's "recruitment and outreach to the growing number of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.”[26]
William Sanchez | Special counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice under George W. Bush | August 10, 2016 | Sanchez was listed on the website of Together for America, a group focused on leading the Clinton campaign's "recruitment and outreach to the growing number of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.”[26]
Brent Scowcroft | National security advisor to Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush | August 10, 2016 | Scowcroft was listed on the website of Together for America, a group focused on leading the Clinton campaign's "recruitment and outreach to the growing number of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.”[26]
William H. Taft, IV | Deputy secretary of defense under Ronald Reagan and ambassador to NATO under George H.W. Bush | August 8, 2016 | Taft cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him. The letter stated that Trump “fundamentally...lacks the character, values, and experience to be President." They continued, “He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. ... None of us will vote for Donald Trump.”[25]
Shirin Tahir-Kheli | Special assistant under President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's ambassador | August 10, 2016 | Tahir-Kheli was listed on the website of Together for America, a group focused on leading the Clinton campaign's "recruitment and outreach to the growing number of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.”[26] Tahir-Kheli also cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him.[25]
Pete Teeley | Press secretary under (V.P.) George H.W. Bush and ambassador to Canada and U.S. representative to UNICEF under (President) George H.W. Bush | August 10, 2016 | Teeley was listed on the website of Together for America, a group focused on leading the Clinton campaign's "recruitment and outreach to the growing number of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.”[26]
Daniel Twining | State Department policy planning staff under President George W. Bush and foreign policy advisor to Senator John McCain | August 10, 2016 | Twining was listed on the website of Together for America, a group focused on leading the Clinton campaign's "recruitment and outreach to the growing number of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.”[26]
Kenneth Wainstein | Assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism and assistant attorney general for national security under George W. Bush | August 8, 2016 | Wainstein cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him. The letter stated that Trump “fundamentally...lacks the character, values, and experience to be President." They continued, “He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood. He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. ... None of us will vote for Donald Trump.”[25]
Matthew Waxman | Deputy assistant secretary of defense and member of the National Security Council under President George W. Bush | August 10, 2016 | Waxman was listed on the website of Together for America, a group focused on leading the Clinton campaign's "recruitment and outreach to the growing number of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.”[26] Waxman also cosigned a letter authored by fifty Republican senior national security officials criticizing Donald Trump and saying they will not vote for him.[25]
Paul Wolfowitz | Deputy secretary of defense under President George W. Bush | August 26, 2016 | "The only way you can be comfortable about Trump's foreign policy, is to think he doesn't really mean anything he says. That's a pretty uncomfortable place to be in. Our security depends on having good relationships with our allies. Trump mainly shows contempt for them. And he seems to be unconcerned about the Russian aggression in Ukraine. By doing this he tells them that they can go ahead and do what they are doing. That is dangerous. ... I wish there were somebody I could be comfortable voting for. I might have to vote for Hillary Clinton, even though I have big reservations about her."[27]

# Qualified opposition[edit]

The following members of Congress opposed Donald Trump as the Republican nominee for president, but they said Trump could win them over if he clarified or changed his views on a variety of issues.
A gray background indicates that the senator or representative was identified as vulnerable going into the 2016 election by Ballotpedia. More information about Ballotpedia's battleground races and races to watch can be found here.
An (*) indicates that the senator or representative did not attend the Republican National Convention July 18-21, 2016, in Cleveland, Ohio.

Members of Congress who offered statements of qualified opposition to Trump

Name  | State  | First elected  | Date  | Statement
*Sen. Dean Heller | Nevada | 2011 | May 4, 2016 | "I vehemently oppose our nominee and some of the comments and issues he brought up during the campaign. Things that he’s said about women and the Hispanic community across the West.” When asked if he would vote for Trump, Heller said, “No, but what I’m committing to is voting against Hillary Clinton.” According to Bloomberg, Heller also said "that voters in Nevada have the option of voting for 'none of the above.'"[28]
Rep. Louie Gohmert | Texas' 1st Congressional District | 2004 | May 4, 2016 | "You've got to stop things that are inappropriate, and then you've got to apologize for things you've done in the past that are inappropriate, and then he has a great shot at being president."[29]
Rep. Ann Wagner | Missouri's 2nd Congressional District | 2002 | May 5, 2016 | “First and foremost, I have absolutely no intention of supporting Hillary Clinton – not now, not ever. I am kind of like all voters. The candidate who is running for public office has to earn my vote, and Donald Trump has not earned my vote. We have got 150 days (before the election). We will see. But he is going to have to earn my vote and prove that he is capable of stepping up to the leadership position of being the nominee of our party. I am going to take a thoughtful approach on this.” When asked how Trump could earn her support, she said, “Actually put real policies and issues out there that line up with my conservative principles. And I have yet to see that on policy. And, quite frankly, I believe in calling people to their highest and best, not their lowest and least. And Donald Trump’s slurs and attacks, not only do I find them not presidential, I just don’t even find them suitable in society."[30]
*Rep. John Katko | New York's 24th Congressional District | 2014 | May 5, 2016 | "Any candidate has to earn my vote, including Donald Trump. He has a lot of work to do in that regard. I'm concerned with some of the comments he's made, and with the general tone that he's taken." Katko added that he will not support Hillary Clinton (D) for president.[31]
*Rep. Barbara Comstock | Virginia's 10th Congressional District | 2014 | May 6, 2016 | “I can’t support Hillary Clinton, but I’m like any voter, a candidate has to earn my vote, and at this time Donald Trump has not done so. We’re going to watch the process. I’ve expressed my concerns before.”[32]
*Rep. Mike Coffman | Colorado's 6th Congressional District | 2008 | May 6, 2016 | "Both Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump have tapped into a legitimate anger about the failures of Washington but instead of running a campaign built on a positive vision for overcoming these failures, Donald Trump has conducted a polarizing and divisive campaign. Hillary Clinton is a non-starter and lacks the integrity to lead this nation but Trump has a long way to go to earn the support of many - me included."[33]
*Rep. Will Hurd | Texas' 23rd Congressional District | 2014 | May 6, 2016 | “Until the presumptive nominee shows he can respect women and minorities and presents a clear plan to protect our homeland, I am going to reserve my endorsement. I hope in the next seven months he can show this because I am not supporting Hillary Clinton.”[34]
Rep. Bill Flores | Texas' 17th Congressional District | 2010 | June 8, 2016 | "I don't endorse people that bash judges based on his ethnic heritage. ... Mr. Trump needs to show how he will address the critical issues on the minds of Americans: national security and economic opportunity for hardworking American families. Americans need to see more vision and less trash talk. ... I was incredibly angry to see Mr. Trump question a judge’s motives because of his ethnicity," he added. "Like tens of millions of Americans, I will not vote for Hillary Clinton and desire to vote for a bold, conservative leader. Mr. Trump can be that leader, and we are ready to help him when he focuses on vision instead of inappropriate attacks.”[35]
Rep. Jeff Flake | Arizona | 2012 | June 12, 2016 | "I hope that a number of us at least will withhold endorsement. I've not endorsed, until we see. It's not a comfortable position to not support your nominee of the party. None of us want to be in this position. But there are certain things that you can't do as a candidate. And some of the things he's done I think are beyond the pale.”[36]
Sen. Ted Cruz | Texas | 2012 | July 22, 2016 | "I am not in the habit of supporting people who attack my wife and attack my father."[37]
*Rep. Kay Granger | Texas' 12th Congressional District | 1996 | May 13, 2016 | “I am disappointed. I think there were better candidates for our nominee. There is also a great deal of work needed to heal the divisions caused by this campaign. I hope that healing can happen. I have reservations, not for him as the nominee but how that affects some members and other candidates. . . . I’m not endorsing at this point. I endorsed Jeb Bush. I’m not going to endorse again.”[38]
*Rep. Mac Thornberry | Texas' 13th Congressional District | 1994 | June 2, 2016 | "If you endorse somebody, it's like a stamp of approval and embracing them. I'm not comfortable doing that with him based on a number of reasons." He added that he would not vote for Hillary Clinton.[39]

The following governors currently oppose Donald Trump as the Republican nominee for president, but they have said Trump could win them over if he clarifies or changes his views on a variety of issues.
An (*) indicates that the senator or representative did not attend the Republican National Convention July 18-21, 2016, in Cleveland, Ohio.

Current governors who offered statements of qualified opposition to Trump

Name  | State  | First elected  | Date  | Statement
*Gov. Brian Sandoval | Nevada | 2010 | June 7, 2016

May 4, 2016 | “I support the Republican Party and will continue to help elect strong Republican leaders in Nevada but at this time I cannot say I will definitely vote for Mr. Trump.”[40]

According to the Las Vegas Sun, Sandoval said that “he plans to vote for Trump, though he added that ‘it is no secret that we do not agree on every issue.’” Sandoval also said, “[T]he Democratic nominee is simply not an option.”[41]

## See also[edit]

* Donald Trump
* Presidential election, 2016

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ Reason.com, "Amash Says Cruz Isn't a Libertarian, Endorses Him, Wishes Trump Would 'Go Back to The Apprentice,'" accessed March 4, 2016
2. ↑ The Wall Street Journal, "Republican Divide About Trump Grows," accessed March 2, 2016
3. ↑ The Washington Post, "House Republicans could be hurt by strong downdraft from Donald Trump if he wins presidential nod," accessed March 4, 2016
4. ↑ The Washington Post, "GOP senator Susan Collins: Why I cannot support Trump," August 8, 2016
5. ↑ BuzzFeed, "Susan Collins: I’ll Be Able To Back Trump If He Stops 'Gratuitous Personal Insults,'" accessed May 6, 2016
6. ↑ Facebook, "Lindsey Graham, accessed May 6, 2016
7. ↑ CBS News, "Lindsey Graham: "We're gonna lose to Hillary Clinton" with Donald Trump," accessed March 2, 2016
8. ↑ Journal Sentinel, "An anti-Trump Republican who isn't shy about it," accessed March 4, 2016
9. ↑ The New York Times, "Congressman Backs Libertarian Presidential Candidate in Campaign First," accessed August 7, 2016
10. ↑ The Hill, "GOP rep: 'I will not support Trump'," accessed March 2, 2016
11. ↑ Wavy.com, "Congressman Rigell denounces Donald Trump in letter," accessed March 2, 2016
12. ↑ Facebook, "Ben Sasse," accessed May 6, 2016
13. ↑ U.S. News & World Report, "Republicans Vow to Oppose Trump in November," accessed March 2, 2016
14. ↑ Facebook, " accessed March 2, 2016
15. ↑ Syracuse.com, "GOP Rep. Richard Hanna: I'll vote for Clinton; first House member to cross party line," accessed August 4, 2016
16. ↑ The Hill, "GOP lawmaker: I wouldn't vote for Cruz or Trump in November," accessed March 30, 2016
17. ↑ Miami Herald, "Miami congresswoman confirms she won't vote for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton," accessed May 7, 2016
18. ↑ Chicago Sun Times, "Sen. Mark Kirk withdraws support for Trump," accessed June 7, 2016
19. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Sen. Mark Kirk, others to skip GOP national convention — and Trump circus," accessed May 11, 2016
20. ↑ Boston Globe, "Charlie Baker won’t vote for Donald Trump in November," accessed March 2, 2016
21. ↑ Fortune, "Midwestern Governors Are Divided on Their Support of Trump," accessed May 6, 2016
22. ↑ CNN, "Kasich on Trump endorsement: 'Why would I?'," accessed July 22, 2016
23. ↑ The Hill, "GOP gov says he won't vote for Trump," accessed July 23, 2016
24. ↑ Politico, "Maryland’s Republican governor won’t promise to vote for Trump in November," accessed March 25, 2016
25. ↑ 25.00 25.01 25.02 25.03 25.04 25.05 25.06 25.07 25.08 25.09 25.10 25.11 25.12 25.13 25.14 25.15 25.16 25.17 25.18 25.19 25.20 25.21 25.22 25.23 25.24 The New York Times, "A Letter From G.O.P. National Security Officials Opposing Donald Trump," August 8, 2016
26. ↑ 26.00 26.01 26.02 26.03 26.04 26.05 26.06 26.07 26.08 26.09 26.10 26.11 26.12 26.13 26.14 26.15 26.16 26.17 26.18 26.19 26.20 26.21 26.22 Together for America, "Leaders," accessed August 12, 2016
27. ↑ Der Spiegel, "Republicans Against Trump: Bush Advisor Wolfowitz Says He'll Likely Vote for Clinton," August 26, 2016
28. ↑ Bloomberg, "Trump's Triumph Leaves Many Republicans at a Loss for Words," accessed May 6, 2016
29. ↑ Texas Tribune, "Texas GOP Starts to Rally Behind Trump as Nominee," accessed May 9, 2016
30. ↑ St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "Republican Rep. Ann Wagner says Trump, with 'slurs and attacks,' has not earned her support," accessed May 5, 2016
31. ↑ Syracuse.com, "Rep. John Katko: Donald Trump has to earn my vote," accessed May 9, 2016
32. ↑ Richmond.com, "GOP Rep. Comstock says Trump has not earned her support," accessed May 9, 2016
33. ↑ TheDenverChannel.com, "Endorsements are lukewarm for Donald Trump here in Colorado," accessed May 10, 2016
34. ↑ The Dallas Morning News, "Rep. Will Hurd keeping distance from Donald Trump, pushing back against Pete Gallego attack ads," accessed May 11, 2016
35. ↑ Texas Tribune, "Texas GOP Congressman Declines to Endorse Trump," accessed July 22, 2016
36. ↑ Politico, "Sen. Flake urges Republicans to withhold Trump endorsement," June 12, 2016
37. ↑ CNN, "Defiant Ted Cruz stands by refusal to endorse Trump after being booed during convention speech," accessed July 23, 2016
38. ↑ McClatchyDC, "What Fort Worth-area lawmakers think of Donald Trump," accessed July 23, 2016
39. ↑ Times Record News, "Thornberry addresses defense spending bill, other topics," accessed July 23, 2016
40. ↑ Las Vegas Review Journal, "Sandoval says his vote for Trump not absolute after remarks about judge," accessed July 22, 2016
41. ↑ Las Vegas Sun, "Sandoval, other top Nevada Republicans plan to vote for Trump," accessed May 6, 2016

v • e

Donald Trump

Overviews|

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Business career|

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Republicans and their declared positions on Donald Trump • Republicans supporting Donald Trump • Republicans opposing Donald Trump, 2016 • Republican state legislators changing their party to protest Donald Trump • NeverTrump movement • History of Donald Trump's political donations • Violence and Donald Trump's presidential campaign

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Trump and the media|

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Campaign staff|

Chief executive: Steve Bannon • Campaign manager: Kellyanne Conway • Deputy campaign manager: David Bossie • National spokesperson: Katrina Pierson • Co-chair: Sam Clovis • Senior advisor: Michael Biundo

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