Turned on Trump: Here are the Republicans backing Democrats over MAGA candidates – Washington Examiner
Despite not appearing on the November ballot, former President Donald Trump has played a major role in the midterm elections by endorsing a slew of Republican candidates.
But a number of high-profile Republicans in battleground states have placed their support behind the Democratic candidates opposing some of those Trump-endorsed nominees. Its not clear what effect, if any, the conflicting endorsements will have, but it does show how the Republican Party has fractured, to some extent, over whether to continue embracing the former president.
MAJORITY OF VOTERS HAVE ELECTION DENIERS ON BALLOT FOR POSITIONS THAT OVERSEE ELECTIONS
Heres a list of Republicans who have backed Democrats over their partys candidate:
Arizona
State Rep. Joel John (R) turned heads in Arizona after the Republican lawmaker endorsed Democratic candidate Adrian Fontes over Trump-backed state Rep. Mark Finchem (R) in the race for secretary of state.
Our nations history is full of heroes who bravely stood up to do what was right even if it wasnt popular in their respective camps, John said in a statement. We need more people like that today. I am proud to support Adrian Fontes and join noble Republicans and Independents who are willing to put country before party. His opponent is someone who sought to get rid of voting by mail and has sought to overturn the 2020 election. Arizona deserves better.
The race took on prominence in the states midterm elections after Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, who currently holds the position and has staunchly defended the states administration of the 2020 election, announced she would not seek reelection and would run for Senate instead. The issue of election integrity has become central to the race, with Finchem backing Trumps unfounded claims that the 2020 election was riddled with fraud.
Arizona has become ground zero of Trumps claims of voter fraud, with the state Senate spending months auditing the 2020 election in Maricopa County. Top county officials criticized the effort, stressing a report on the matter offered "no new evidence" that would alter the result of 2020's presidential election.
Kansas
A handful of former Republican governors have thrown their support behind Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly (D-KS) in her reelection bid against state Attorney General Derek Schmidt, who was endorsed by Trump for his stances on border security and crime.
Former GOP Govs. Mike Hayden, who held office from 1987 to 1991, and Bill Graves, who held office from 1995 to 2003, endorsed Kelly, praising the incumbent for her bipartisan leadership.
"In 50 years in Kansas politics, I've seen the good times and the bad," Hayden said. "The affairs of Kansas are in good shape right now, and I credit the bipartisan approach of Gov. Kelly."
Former Govs. Kathleen Sebelius and John Carlin, both Democrats, also backed Kelly for reelection.
Oklahoma
Three Oklahoma state lawmakers have endorsed Democratic Senate candidate Kendra Horn in her fight against Trump-backed Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R).
Former Oklahoma House Speaker Kris Steele (R) offered his endorsement of Horn in a video on Wednesday, calling her "the kind of leader that we need to move our state forward in a positive, productive, and healthy direction."
Horn has also been endorsed by former GOP state party Chairman Stephen Jones as well as Republican Steven Agee, the former chairman of the Oklahoma City Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
Pennsylvania
Several prominent Republicans have publicly endorsed Democratic candidate Josh Shapiro in his race against state Sen. Doug Mastriano for Pennsylvania governor. At least 16 Republicans publicly threw their support behind Shapiro in August after it was reported Mastriano posed for a photo wearing a Confederate uniform in 2014.
The governors race in Pennsylvania has become one of the higher-profile races, as it could have implications for how the 2024 presidential election is carried out in a key swing state. Throughout his campaign, Mastriano has backed claims by Trump that the 2020 election was rigged.
Republicans who have backed Shapiro include Michael Chertoff, who served as the secretary of Homeland Security under former President George W. Bush, and former state Rep. Mario Civera.
[Shapiro is] a staunch defender of our democratic institutions and will lead Pennsylvania with honor and integrity. I am proud to support his campaign for governor, Chertoff said.
Texas
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is seeking reelection this year, but several high-profile Republicans in the state, including former Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff, have opted to support his Democratic opponent, Mike Collier.
Patrick is endorsed by Trump and touts the support on his website.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
"As a former elected Republican, I'm putting partisanship aside and joining the growing number of Republicans voting for the man we think is best for Texas, and that's Mike Collier," Ratliff said in a statement.
Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley and state Sen. Kel Seliger, both Republicans, have also endorsed the Democrat.
- Republicans divided over whether to salvage Obamacare or replace it ahead of subsidy deadline - Fox News - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- Speaker Johnson pleads with Republicans to keep concerns private after tumultuous week - Richmond Times-Dispatch - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- Booker Hosts Roundtable with New Jerseyans to Discuss Republicans Refusal To Address Spiking Health Care Costs for NJ Families - Insider NJ - December 5th, 2025 [December 5th, 2025]
- Republicans have a mess on their hands over health care subsidies - Axios - December 5th, 2025 [December 5th, 2025]
- List of House Republicans Pushing to Extend Obamacare Subsidies - Newsweek - December 5th, 2025 [December 5th, 2025]
- Minnesota Republicans respond to ICE operations, Trump 'garbage' comments - FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul - December 5th, 2025 [December 5th, 2025]
- House Republicans urge action to prevent cutoff of SNAP food benefits - WDEL - December 5th, 2025 [December 5th, 2025]
- Republicans may be staring down a rerun of the disastrous 2018 midterms - The Hill - December 5th, 2025 [December 5th, 2025]
- Republicans left tribes out of their $50B rural fund. Now its up to states to share. - Alaska Beacon - December 5th, 2025 [December 5th, 2025]
- Florida Republicans Start Redistricting Talks, but Some Arent in a Rush - The New York Times - December 5th, 2025 [December 5th, 2025]
- At the Races: Republicans in revolt? - Roll Call - December 5th, 2025 [December 5th, 2025]
- Republicans ask the Supreme Court to gut one of the last limits on money in politics - vox.com - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- Republicans begin to tighten the screws on Hegseths Pentagon - The Washington Post - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- Republicans Had a Plan to Avoid Abortion in 2026. It Just Imploded. - Slate - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- Trump pollsters health care advice for Republicans: Pivot to drug prices - Politico - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- Article | Trump pollsters health care advice for Republicans: pivot to drug prices - POLITICO Pro - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- How William Hendrix Became Part of a Racist, Antisemitic Group Chat for Young Republicans - The New York Times - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- Republicans won the special election in TN - but by a narrower margin than in 2024. A look at how voters changed - WSMV - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- Why the Tennessee race deserves a closer look from Republicans - Roll Call - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- At least 11 Indiana Republicans were targeted with threats or swatting attacks amid redistricting pressure from Trump - NBC News - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- Trumps Henry Cuellar Pardon Complicates Republicans Messaging Around His Race - NOTUS News of the United States - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- Republicans want the Supreme Court to save them from their own inept mistake - vox.com - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- Republicans are covering their backsides on the double-tap strike - CNN - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- The Election That Has Republicans on Edge, and How One College Student Was Deported - The New York Times - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- Dividing lines | Indiana Republicans remain split on a path forward ahead of a monumental redistricting vote - WTHR - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- Republicans work to defend a deep-red House district in expensive Tennessee special election - NBC News - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang visits Republicans as debate over intensifying AI race rages - AP News - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- Republicans avoided a nightmare in Tennessee. Their electoral picture is still scary - CNN - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- Tennessee Election Result Is a Fire Alarm for Republicans | Perspective - Newsweek - December 4th, 2025 [December 4th, 2025]
- Mike Johnson set to huddle with Indiana Republicans amid redistricting fight - Politico - November 28th, 2025 [November 28th, 2025]
- Republicans seek severe immigration crackdown over D.C. shooting: "Deport them all. Now." - Axios - November 28th, 2025 [November 28th, 2025]
- Young Republicans want Texas to ban IVF. We can't let them. | Editorial - Houston Chronicle - November 28th, 2025 [November 28th, 2025]
- After weathering a blue wave, Republicans maintain grip Rensselaer County politics - Times Union - November 28th, 2025 [November 28th, 2025]
- House Republicans join Democrats in effort to repeal Trumps unprecedented union-busting executive order - The Labor Tribune - November 28th, 2025 [November 28th, 2025]
- Judges allow North Carolina to use a map drawn in bid to give Republicans another US House seat - Newsday - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- House Republicans Slam Witkoff Over Handling of Russia-Ukraine Talks - Foreign Policy - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Judges allow North Carolina to use a map drawn in bid to give Republicans another U.S. House seat - PBS - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Republicans consider quitting Congress early over death threats and infighting - Axios - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Republicans Fight With Trumps Team Over Ukraine Talks - The New York Times - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Indiana Republicans may have to break with their rules to redistrict. Can Democrats stop them? - IndyStar - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Once Foes of Obamacare, Some Republicans Push to Protect It - The New York Times - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Are Republicans in Indiana caving to President Trump's redistricting demands? - CNN - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Most Democrats and one-third of Republicans think its likely the U.S. will get into a nuclear war in the next decade - YouGov - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Opinion: Republicans hope the Supreme Court will help them hold the House - Chattanooga Times Free Press - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Obamacare premiums are skyrocketing. Republicans cant figure out what to do. - Politico - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Facing Threats and Intimidation, Indiana Republicans Will Vote on Redistricting - Democracy Docket - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Is the price of doing this worth it?: North Carolina Republicans worry about Trump immigration raids - Politico - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- How Democrats and Republicans are rethinking the goal of government under Trump - NPR - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- The Clock Is Ticking For Republicans To Overhaul Health Insurance - Investopedia - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Its Not Just MTG: Other Republicans in Congress Are Reportedly Eyeing an Exit - Vanity Fair - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Republicans want comprehensive oversight of Michigans 2026 election. What does that mean? - Michigan Advance - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Some Republicans want to try to pass another mega-bill on health care - The Washington Post - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Article | Trump was going to roll out a health care plan. Then Republicans weighed in. - POLITICO Pro - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Why Republicans Are Fighting About the Nazis - The New York Times - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Trump's Chummy Embrace Of Mamdani Is 'Sabotaging Himself And Republicans': GOP Strategist - Forbes - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- From The New York Times Opinion Section Only Republicans have a plan for A.I., David Byler writes. Democrats, at best, have concepts of a plan. And if... - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Trump seizes control of Republicans' 2026 election strategy with his presidency on the line - Yahoo - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Georgia Republicans and the Trump Administration Are Working to Undermine the 2026 Elections - Democracy Docket - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Trumps gambit to save Republicans from a giant health insurance spike comes with a $50 billion price tag, CRFB estimates - Fortune - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Why health savings accounts arent the fix Republicans hope for - The Washington Post - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Its not just Marjorie Taylor Greene: The Republicans considering quitting over Trump - Yahoo - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Democrats make a new offer to end the shutdown, but Republicans aren't buying it - NBC News - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- The Republicans Warning They Have a Problem - The New York Times - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- LEADER JEFFRIES ON MSNBC: DONALD TRUMP AND REPUBLICANS HAVE DECIDED TO WEAPONIZE HUNGER AND STARVATION Congressman Hakeem Jeffries - Congressman... - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Democrats consider prolonging the government shutdown as Republicans prepare new bills without health care fix - ABC7 Los Angeles - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Democrats consider prolonging the shutdown as Republicans prepare new bills without health care fix - abcnews.go.com - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Republicans are losing this key voting bloc. Here's why. - USA Today - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Republicans Block Measure to Bar Military Strike on Venezuela - The New York Times - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Republicans are losing support from Latinos in Colorado as voters voice dissatisfaction with immigration, inflation efforts - Post Independent - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Senate Republicans Reject Measure to Block Military Action in Venezuela - WSJ - The Wall Street Journal - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Senate will vote Friday to advance shutdown-ending deal, Thune tells Republicans - Politico - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- EDITORIAL: Stuck on Stupid-How Annapolis Republicans Turned Another Election Into a Self-Inflicted Rout - Eye On Annapolis - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Article | Key Republicans waver ahead of war powers vote - POLITICO Pro - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Charlotte GOP lost big on election night. Is it final nail in coffin for Republicans? - Charlotte Observer - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Republicans must nuke filibuster now or Democrats will do it when they regain power, Trump warns - Washington Examiner - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Trump and Republicans admonish others for their election losses - Politico - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Republicans think the shutdown is about to end. They could be dead wrong. - MSNBC News - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Trump says election results not good for Republicans, citing 2 possible reasons - Fox News - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Republicans Just Lost a Statewide Election in Pennsylvania. What Does That Mean for the Future? - Slate - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- California Republicans thought they could beat Newsom's gerrymander. They crashed and burned. - Politico - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]