‘Put patriotism ahead of partisanship’ – Liz Cheney issues a call to duty in the Wisconsin birthplace of the Republican Party

Liz Cheney appears with Kamala Harris in a campaign stop at Ripon College. (Photo: Elisabeth Montemurro)

The exiled Republican implored other conservatives who feel politically homeless to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris and defeat Trumpism.

Ripon, Wisconsin, may be the birthplace of the Grand Old Party, but one of the nation’s most prominent anti-Trump Republicans visited Ripon College on Thursday to urge fellow conservatives to put country over party and cast their vote for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the Nov. 5 presidential election.

Cheney, a former Wyoming Congresswoman, was one of only two Republicans on the House Select Committee investigating the January 6th attack on the US Capitol after GOP leadership refused to appoint other members. She introduced the Vice President by stating that Harris “is standing in the breach at a critical moment in our nation’s history. She’s working to unite reasonable people from all across the political spectrum.” 

“In this election, putting patriotism ahead of partisanship is not an aspiration, it is our duty.”

Cheney added, “In this country under our constitution, our president has a particular solemn obligation to ensure the peaceful transfer of power… every president in our history has fulfilled that duty. Every President until Donald Trump.”

Liz Cheney has endorsed Harris this election, one of Harris’ most notable backings from a prominent, longtime Republican—surpassed perhaps only by her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney. Both have been testaments to how deeply Trump has divided the country and parts of his own party.

“Your endorsement, Liz, carries a special significance. We may not see eye-to-eye on every issue. And you may not have supported a Democrat for President before,” Harris said at the event.

“We both know that our oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States is a sacred oath,” Harris added. “I have sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution six times in my career. Including as vice president.”

Event attendees also echoed the importance of putting country over party in this election. Arlo Reichter, a Ripon resident attending Thursday’s event, said he grew up a Republican but he’s “a long ways from there now because of the direction that party has gone.” 

When it comes to voting this fall, Reichter said he’ll be voting for values. 

“I don’t appreciate the style of politics that puts people down. It’s about listening and compromise. That’s what makes our democracy work.”