Republicans for Harris launches in North Carolina

The group, which includes retired NC Supreme Court Justice Robert Orr and former Georgia Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan, hopes to encourage conservatives, as well as current and disaffected Republicans to vote for Kamala Harris for president.

As energy continues to build around Kamala Harris for president, she’s drawing support from some folks you might not expect: prominent Republicans. 

Former North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Robert Orr, North Carolina army veteran Scott Peoples, and former Republican member of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners Michael Tucker were among several Republicans and conservatives who took part in Monday’s launch of the Republicans for Harris coalition via a virtual press conference. 

Orr also praised Harris’ ability to work across the aisle, and her ability to unify the country.

“Vice President Harris has already demonstrated that she is a unifying leader, she worked across the aisle as a senator, and has helped pass generational bipartisan legislation to make life better for North Carolinians during her term as a senator and as Vice President,” he said.

Orr also expressed his concern about the recent US Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. United States that expanded presidential immunity. 

“I am greatly concerned that Trump’s appointments to the US Supreme Court, which just granted him virtual immunity, giving him nearly a blank check to do what he wants without fear of accountability, will wreak havoc on the democracy that we so cherish,” he said.

Orr was a member of the Republican Party for decades. After the January 6th attack on the US Capitol by Trump supporters, he spoke out against the former president and his takeover of the party.

“It is this cult of loyalty that has completely ruined the Republican Party, and I see no redemption for this party any time soon,” he told the News & Observer at the time.

Peoples expressed similar alienation from the party and encouraged other conservatives and Republicans who feel put off by Donald Trump and the MAGA takeover of the party to support Harris.

“Trump and MAGA Republicans don’t share my values. To other Americans who feel as I do, abandoned by a party that has moved so far away from our values and core principles, consider this choice you have in November. I’ll be voting for Vice President Kamala Harris because she is a champion for veterans and military families,” he said.

Based on the March primary results, which saw UN Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley get 23.3% of the vote against Trump in North Carolina, there could be many Republicans in the state who are potentially gettable for Democrats in November. 

For Tucker, who was a member of the county commission in Mecklenburg County during Covid-19, Trump’s handling of — and rhetoric during —  the pandemic shaped his views on the former president. 

“There was definitely some concerns that we saw with some of Donald Trump’s behavior, some of the thing’s he was talking about during Covid-19,” he said.

Tucker said he debated with himself as to whether or not he should speak out against Trump, who was president at the time.

“Well, I’m serving in a leadership position within this party, I don’t really want to rock the boat, but I am not really convinced that using bleach to be able to solve Covid-19, for example, is a good idea,” he said, referencing Trump’s remarks during one of his presidential briefings when he suggested injecting bleach could be a means of fighting off Covid.

Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, who has become a favorite target of Trump’s, also took part in Monday’s press conference.

“I’m a Republican, but more importantly, I’m an American, and that’s why I’m here. I have been more disappointed in the Republican Party over the last four years than I have ever been in my entire life,” Duncan said. 

He said that Harris would provide the country with stable leadership.

“I’m proudly endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to be the next president of the United States for a number of reasons. And not many of those are because of all the policies, but because of the person, because of the adherence to the Constitution, and because it’s going to be a stable hand at a time when this country needs a stable hand,” Duncan said.

Duncan also expressed concern about the prospect of Trump returning to the White House.

“He has proven to be a reckless character on good days, and a dangerous character on bad days,” Duncan said.