PHOENIX — Retired Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley has joined an alliance of Republicans in Arizona endorsing the Democratic presidential ticket of Vice President Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.
Romley was the county's top prosecutor from 1989 to 2004 and again in 2010. A Marine veteran and recipient of the Purple Heart, Romley has been outspoken against former President Donald Trump's disregard for democratic norms in government. In 2022, Romley endorsed Democrat Kris Mayes for Attorney General against the MAGA candidate in a race that was decided by less than 300 votes.
The Arizona Republicans for Harris Advisory Committee announced Tuesday they have 120 members, including 90 new additions. They include former Republican state legislators Rich Crandall, Joel John, Bob Worsley, and Steve May; former Fife Symington aide Annie Mooney, Mesa City Councilmember Julie Spilsbury and Glendale City Councilmember Bart Turner.. Republican donors, attorneys, and grassroots activists are also supporters. Nationally, 230 former aides of Republican presidents and Republican campaigns are publicly supporting Harris.
Arizona saw the damage wrought by the former president's attempts to derail the 2020 election results. Trump and his allies launched false election conspiracies in Arizona that led to threats against election workers and public officials. The movement also yielded lucrative fundraising opportunities for MAGA candidates, many who have been named by a democracy watchdog as "election deniers" currently holding public office.
"I think this list of Republicans For Harris just shows the disgust so many of us feel having to see Trump's name on the ballot again," said Joel John, a lifelong Buckeye Republican and legislator from 2021-2023.
The ASU's Recovering Truth Project recently told 12News Republicans are speaking out because Trump "completely upended the rules of democracy" when he refused to agree to a peaceful transfer of power.
"These are Republicans in exile who are saying, 'look, I don't agree with policy positions of the Democratic party but this is about democracy, preserving our Republic'," said John Carlson.
The committee's Chair, Mesa Mayor John Giles, has become an unofficial spokesperson for disaffected Republicans on the national stage.
"The number of Arizona Republicans backing Vice President Harris is rapidly growing. It shows that we are not alone," Giles said in a statement Tuesday. "Harris represents a stark contrast to the chaos and division we've seen from Trump and his allies in recent years."
Publicly opposing the MAGA movement can bring consequences. For his part, Joel John lost his primary election in 2022 against two MAGA candidates.
"Even if you disagree with Kamala Harris on policy, at least she respects the constitutional process. I just don't think enough people grasp enough how serious January 6th was," Joel John said.
Harris is scheduled to be back in Arizona for a campaign stop on Friday.
>>Editor's note: Former City of Mesa Vice Mayor Dennis Kavanaugh was included in an initial list provided by the Harris campaign. Kavanaugh is a registered Democrat and has been removed from this article.
Decision 2024
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