Former Michigan GOP leaders urge Republicans to support Harris

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30 — Bill Rustem, a former aide to former Michigan Republican Govs. William Milliken and Rick Snyder, is weary of Donald Trump’s lingering influence over his party.

“We're kind of in a World Wrestling Federation moment in America where the bully is kind of revered, and the bully keeps other people from saying what they truly believe,” he said.

Today, in an East Lansing press conference, Rustem used his voice to counter that “bully” by publicly expressing his support for Vice President Kamala Harris’ White House bid. He was joined by a former Michigan Republican Party executive director, Gary Reed, and reproductive rights advocate Amanda Stratton.

The trio is touring the state to win over Republicans who may have supported Trump before. In 2020, President Biden easily defeated Trump in Ingham County, 65% to 33%. But with polls showing Trump and Harris tied statewide, Democrats are hoping that Republicans for Harris can convert some of the more than 47,000 county residents who backed Trump last time into Harris voters this time.

Rustem, a Nikki Haley voter in Michigan’s GOP primary, urged his fellow Republicans to “reject Trump once and for all” Tuesday.

“Now, while I do not agree with all of Harris' policy ideas, at least she is proposing them, rather than just sowing hate and division. At least she's a strong leader who will serve with integrity in the Oval Office and work across the aisle to get things done for the American people,” he said.

Reed noted that he’s “spent most of my life trying to elect Republicans up and down the ballot.”

“When I was the executive director of the state party, we embraced values like fiscal discipline and strong foreign policy. We believed in good governance and the rule of law. Now, those values are nowhere to be seen in the Republican Party, and there is one person responsible for all of that,” Reed said.

(Reed authored a letter in City Pulse this week.)

He believes Trump’s disregard for fiscal discipline was evident in the nearly $7.8 trillion growth in the national debt during his administration. He cited tariffs that Trump would seek to enact in a second term, which Reed said would “raise the cost for the average family by nearly $4,000 a year.”

In foreign policy, “Trump cozies up to dictators,” Reed added.

“Instead of coming up with sensible, conservative solutions to the challenges we face as a nation, Trump lies, spreads conspiracy theories and peddles his own personal grievances,” Reed said.

Stratton, a lifelong Michigander, explained how she grew up in a “conservative household.”

“I've always been drawn to the idea of responsible governance, respect for the Constitution and an adamant defense of Americans’ personal freedoms,” Stratton said. “Unfortunately, Republicans do not have a candidate at the top of the ticket this year that shares those values. Instead, we have Donald Trump — someone who only cares about himself.”

The most important issue in this election, she added, is Trump’s “cruel disregard for women's health care and reproductive rights.”

“Thanks to Donald Trump, women across the country now live under dangerous abortion bans. They can't get the care that they need. Their doctors are worried about going to jail, and some women have even lost their lives,” she said.

Stratton said she fears that a second Trump presidency would bring about a national abortion ban. She can’t let that happen, she said, because her children were born through infertility treatments. She believes other women deserve the same option.

“We endured five miscarriages over the course of two and a half years. Those were the darkest years of my life, not knowing why my body wasn't sustaining another pregnancy,” she said. “The medical support that allowed me to eventually have my beautiful daughter involved fertility treatments that are at risk of being restricted by extreme Republican politicians and judges.”

Stratton asked Republicans who value “choice and personal freedom” to join her in supporting Harris.

Rustem said he was optimistic the GOP could move past Trump’s influence.

“Republicans generally are exhausted by Trump. They're tired of the lies and the grifting, frankly. I’m confident that a number of traditional Republicans are going to vote for Harris this year. We have to quit looking in the rearview mirror and look forward,” he said.

For Reed, “It’s going to take somebody that will go out and actually be a decent human for me to get back on board.”

“Right now, JD Vance and Donald Trump are an embarrassment to the Republican Party. It's the MAGA party, not the Republican Party. Trump is not a great leader. He’s nothing more than a vessel for his personality,” Reed said.