Mainstream Republicans Are Rejecting MAGA/QAnon Election Denier Extremists

“A growing number of prominent Republicans across the country are ditching their party’s nominees in the midterm elections in favor of Democratic candidates, and many others are withholding endorsements, citing the need to fight back against “dangerous extremism.” The endorsements come as the midterm election season heads into the home stretch.”

Emily Singer reports, Prominent Republicans endorse Democrats over GOP candidates, citing ‘extremism’:

More than half of voters in the United States, or 60%, will have a candidate on their ballot who either falsely denies the results of the 2020 presidential election or who won’t say President Joe Biden was legitimately elected, according to FiveThirtyEight.

Arizona’s slate of MAGA/QAnon ‘Big Lie’ eLection deniers.

“If a Republican thinks the 2020 election was stolen despite multiple investigations finding no evidence of widespread voter fraud, they might not accept the results of the 2024 election, either,” writes Nathaniel Rakich, a senior elections analyst at FiveThirtyEight. “And if they’re elected this November, they will be in a position to influence, and potentially overturn, the next presidential election.”

[Last month] a Republican state senator in Texas endorsed Democrat Mike Collier for lieutenant governor over incumbent Republican Dan Patrick.

“Dan Patrick is an extremist,” state Sen. Kel Seliger said in an appearance on Dallas ABC affiliate WFAA’s “Inside Texas Politics.” Seliger joined Republican Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley in endorsing Collier over Patrick.

Patrick is a promoter of election conspiracy theories who has pushed former President Donald Trump’s voter fraud lies and has made offensive comments in the past.

In March 2020, as the coronavirus began to spread across the country, Patrick pushed against shutdowns for safety’s sake and said of older Americans who were considered more vulnerable to the virus: “We’ll take care of ourselves. But don’t sacrifice the country.” Patrick has also railed against academic freedom and teaching about the history of race in the United States. He’s said he wants to ban abortion even in cases of rape or incest, but supports an exception if the life of the pregnant person is at risk, and falsely said such situations are “rare.”

In Michigan, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that 150 Republicans, including former lawmakers, business leaders, and staffers to previous Republican governors in Michigan, are endorsing her for reelection over her opponent, Republican Tudor Dixon.

Former Rep. Joe Schwarz, one of the Michigan Republicans who endorsed Whitmer, said in a news release that Whitmer “has proven herself as a strong leader who is fighting to make Michigan a better place for everyone – regardless of your party affiliation.”

In Pennsylvania, more than a dozen Republicans have endorsed Democratic gubernatorial nominee Josh Shapiro over Republican gubernatorial nominee Doug Mastriano, citing Mastriano’s “extremism.” In July, nine Republicans backed Shapiro, calling Mastriano and his far-right views “dangerous” and “divisive,” and another seven Republicans endorsed Shapiro’s bid on Aug. 30.

“I just don’t think he [Mastriano] really respects our electoral system and he’s even suggested he might appoint some people to be Secretary of State who, in my view, might not be fair in administering elections in this state,” former U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent said in July.

Like Patrick, Mastriano is an election denier and promoter of conspiracy theories. He was present at the Jan. 6 insurrection by supporters of Trump at the U.S. Capitol and even chartered buses that were used by Trump supporters to travel to the rally preceding the riot. He’s being investigated for his involvement in a plot to overturn the 2020 election results by sending a false slate of Republican electors to the Capitol. If elected, he’d have the power to appoint as secretary of state an election denier who could overturn the election results. He has also promised to illegally force every voter to reregister to vote.

“Although I am a long-standing Republican, I am deeply troubled by Doug Mastriano’s embrace of dangerous extremism,” former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff said in a news release. “Josh Shapiro, on the other hand, 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.”

Other Republicans have refused to endorse their own party’s nominees in the November midterms, though they haven’t backed the Democratic nominee either.

In Maryland, Gov. Larry Hogan refused to back the GOP nominee for governor, Dan Cox. Hogan said Cox, who also arranged buses to Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, is a “nut” and a “QAnon whack job” who is not “mentally stable.”

In Massachusetts, retiring GOP Gov. Charlie Baker refused to endorse Republican nominee Geoff Diehl, another election denier who has also pushed COVID-19 conspiracy theories.

In Arizona, Meghan McCain, the television personality and daughter of the late Sen. John McCain, slammed GOP gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake for being too extreme. Lake has made election denialism a cornerstone of her campaign, and has vowed to jail her Democratic opponent, Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, for her role in administering the 2020 election.

“Congratulations to my home state for [fully] making the transition to full blown MAGA/conspiracy theory/fraudster,” McCain tweeted after Lake’s primary win in August. “The voters have spoken – be careful what you wish for…”

More Republicans rejecting MAGA/QAnon election deniers in Arizona:

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly launched a new coalition for Republicans and Independents, “Republicans for Kelly.” Sen. Mark Kelly launches “Republicans for Kelly” (August 22, 2022):

So far, 50 Republicans and Independents across Arizona, ranging from elected officials to small business owners to community leaders, came together to support Kelly’s re-election campaign.

In their endorsements, Arizonans praised Kelly’s willingness to work with anyone across the aisle, regardless of political party or stance, to bring good-paying jobs for the state, lower costs, and make Washington work for Arizona.

“Many of us have come to appreciate Mark’s approach to lawmaking. Mark flies himself across the state, speaks to and listens to Arizonans, whether they’re mayors, community leaders, veterans, students, or seniors. And then he brings it all back to Washington to deliver results. Senator Kelly puts his state and its needs at the center of his work, and Arizonans know he has their back. I’m proud to endorse Senator Kelly for reelection – this was an easy decision to make,” said Paul Hickman, one of the endorsees to the coalition.

For more information on the coalition, click here.

Launched in August, the “Republicans for Katie Hobbs” coalition represents a growing community of conservatives who are putting country over party to keep Kari Lake from becoming governor. MORE ARIZONA REPUBLICAN LEADERS PUT COUNTRY OVER PARTY TO JOIN ‘REPUBLICANS FOR KATIE HOBBS’ COALITION :

These Republican leaders are backing Hobbs’ candidacy because she has the plans to take Arizona forward and keep it on the path of economic prosperity.

“[Kari Lake] is anti-democratic, she does not support our Republic and the right to vote,” said Paul Charlton, Republican and former United States Attorney for Arizona. “I’m voting for someone who puts country first. I’ll be voting for Katie Hobbs.”

Following a call to action for Republican women to vote for Katie Hobbs, penned by Republicans Rebecca Gau and Lisa Hoberg, the “Republicans for Katie Hobbs” coalition is continuing to grow by the day. The coalition recently added endorsements from former United States Attorney for Arizona Paul Charlton and former Director of Arizona Department of Commerce Jackie Norton. Top Republicans also recently hosted a fundraiser for Hobbs.

In addition, two members of the “Republicans for Katie Hobbs” coalition — retired Arizona Diamondbacks President Rich Dozer and Karie Dozer, Communications Director for former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods — are sharing their support for Hobbs on social media and encouraging others to support her campaign.

“I am so proud of the bipartisan coalition we are building to win this November because working across the aisle is how we’re going to get things done when I’m governor,” said Hobbs. “Arizonans can’t afford Kari Lake’s extreme agenda that worsens inflation and puts pressing issues like solving our water crisis and fixing our children’s education on the backburner. With so much on the line, I know that this race isn’t about Democrats versus Republicans — it’s about taking on our state’s toughest challenges together and creating a better future.”

The growing “Republicans for Katie Hobbs” coalition shows that Hobbs’ unifying message resonates with voters of all political backgrounds, while polls show Katie capturing more Republican voters and Kari Lake losing independent voters.

The Arizona Mirror reports, GOP lawmaker backs Adrian Fontes over Mark Finchem to lead AZ elections:

A GOP legislator on Thursday endorsed Adrian Fontes, the Democratic nominee for secretary of state, over a member of his own caucus who has built his campaign on false and evidence-free claims that the 2020 election was rigged against Donald Trump.

“Most people are closer to the middle than they are to the extremes,” Republican state Rep. Joel John said in an interview with the Arizona Mirror. “The extremes on either end are the minority, and it is time for people to focus on policy and what is best for the state instead of on party power or political power.”

In a statement released by Fontes’ campaign, John said he was endorsing Fontes over the GOP nominee, state Rep. Mark Finchem. He said that Finchem’s desire to end mail in voting and Finchem’s desire to overturn the results of the 2020 election were disqualifying.

While speaking with the Mirror, John also cited Finchem’s attendance on January 6 as a point of concern.

“It is, frankly, frightening having someone like that be a heartbeat away from the 9th Floor,” John said, referring to the physical location of the Governor’s Office at the state Capitol. In Arizona, the secretary of state is the first in line to be governor.

Earlier this year, Finchem was the sponsor of legislation that sought to decertify the 2020 election in Arizona’s three largest counties, a move that John said was “wildly unconstitutional.”

John joins a broader coalition of prominent Republicans and independents backing Fontes, including former lawmakers, consultants, mayors and more.

Fontes’ coalition of Republican and independent endorsers includes: former Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley, Former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson, Former State Rep Heather Carter, Former State Rep. Deb Gullett, Former State Rep. Roberta Voss, Former Tempe Mayor Neil Giuliano, Former Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley, Mesa Mayor John Giles, David Adame, Carlos Alfaro, Ruben Alvarez, Auggie Bartning, Nathan Brown, Cassidy Campana, former U.S. Attorney for Arizona Paul Charlton, Jonathan Gelbart, Adam Goodman, John Graham, Wes Gullett, Jack Lunsford, Danny Mazza, Pat McGroder, Tommy McKone, Juan Mojica, Matt Morales, Bettina Nava, David Ralls, Clint Smith, Alec Thomson and Brad Wright.

The Phoenix New Times reports, “On Tuesday, a trio of prominent Republican women — former state Senator Heather Carter, former Phoenix Vice Mayor Peggy Neely, and business owner and political activist Lisa Hoberg — gathered in the Capitol Rose Garden on Washington Street to denounce their fellow Republican and endorse his opponent and Democrat, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly.” Blake Masters Just Got Dumped by Three Republican Women:

Their very public split with Masters was all about abortion. Abortion is illegal again in Arizona, and Masters, the GOP nominee for U.S. Senate, wants a national ban. He’s also called abortion “demonic” and equated it to “religious sacrifice”and “genocide.”

Carter said he’s gone too far.

“Blake Masters is too extreme for Arizona,” Carter said. “The majority of Arizonans want some sort of exception for rape and incest. That does not exist in the bill today, and Blake Masters wants to take this type of a prohibition nationally.”

Carter, a 10-year veteran state lawmaker, served in the same chamber as Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, a Democrat who’s pitted against Kari Lake in the governor’s race. She applauded Hobbs’ willingness to cross the aisle and said that Hobbs and Kelly are more reminiscent of the “pragmatism of [former U.S. Senator John] McCain” than any current Republican on the statewide ticket.

[An] all-out ban on abortion doesn’t appeal to Republican women, Neely said.

Neely said was suffering from a women’s health ailment several years ago as she served as vice mayor and underwent a life-saving operation by a trusted gynecologist.

“If I wasn’t allowed to take the procedure that I did, I would have died,” she said, asking of Masters, “Why should his granddaughter have fewer rights than his grandmother did?”

Neely isn’t the only Republican woman who thinks criminalizing healthcare providers is out of step with the electorate in Arizona.

“[Masters] wants to put doctors behind bars for providing health care to women when they need it most,” Hoberg said. “We have a voice, and our lives should reflect that. Women in Arizona refuse to go back.”

Polls seem to side with the Republican women who spoke out on Tuesday. Some 90 percent of Arizona voters support a women’s right to choose, according to a poll from NARAL Pro-Choice Arizona. Women voters in the state also back Kelly over Masters 55 percent to 35 percent, according to a poll from Marist College.

The three Republicans referenced the overturning of Roe, the September 23 court decision banning nearly all abortions in Arizona, and other recent developments as reasons why they decided to speak out against Masters.

[T]he woman also criticized Masters for peddling the Big Lie conspiracy theory about the 2020 election, calling the gender pay gap “a myth,” and planning to dismantle Social Security. His racist cosplay probably doesn’t help, either.

“Some things are worth crossing party lines for,” Hoberg said. “Rejecting a candidate with downright dangerous beliefs is definitely one of them.”

Former Congressman Jim Kolbe (R-Tucson) has endorsed Democrat Kris Mayes for Attorney General.

If you have been a “Party of Lincoln” Republican for years, you should have already headed for the exits by now from the “Party of Trump” MAGA/QAnon personality cult of “Big Lie” election deniers.

Sorry media villagers: using the “conservative” Republican label to describe this cult is false and dangerously enabling. They are neither conservatives nor Republicans in the generally accepted meaning of the terms. They are White Christian Nationalists and theocrats who are authoritarian and anti-democracy crypto-fascists. They have already demonstrated that they are seditious insurrectionists who tried to overthrow the government, and are prepared to do it again. The media must stop normalizing and enabling this treasonous disloyalty to the Constitution and American democratic norms and values.

If you are a “Party of Lincoln” Republican who does not want to be associated with these extremist MAGA/QAnon personality cult members, it is time for you to head for the exits and to vote every one of them out of office if you want to have any hope of ever being able to restore the “Party of Lincoln” Republican Party to what it used to represent. The MAGA/QAnon personality cult must suffer a massive electoral defeat over several election cycles to drive this extremist personality cult out of the party.