Jeff Flake, dozens of former GOP congressmen joining ‘Republicans for Biden’

Former Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), a frequent critic of President Trump’s, is endorsing Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden along with several other former Republican lawmakers.

The Biden campaign announced the endorsements, first reported by Fox News, on Monday morning. The list includes other former members of Congress who had previously announced their support for Biden, including former Sens. John Warner (R-Va.) and Gordon Humphrey (R-N.H.), who is now an independent, and Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.).

Other former lawmakers on the list include former Reps. Steve Bartlett (R-Texas), Tom Coleman (R-Mo.), Bob Inglis (R-S.C.), Chris Shays (R-Conn.), Alan Steelman (R-Texas) and Jim Walsh (R-N.Y.).

“These former members of Congress cited Trump’s corruption, destruction of democracy, blatant disregard for moral decency, and urgent need to get the country back on course as a reason why they support Biden,” an official with the Biden campaign told Fox News. “These former Members of Congress are supporting Joe Biden because they know what’s at stake in this election and that Trump’s failures as President have superseded partisanship.”

Flake is set to make remarks elaborating on his support for the former vice president Monday afternoon, according to the Biden campaign.

Flake, who retired in 2019, previously said in April that he would not vote for President Trump’s reelection. At the time he suggested he would not support Biden either, saying “This won’t be the first time I’ve voted for a Democrat — though not for president. Last time I voted for a third-party candidate. But I will not vote for Donald Trump.”

The announcement comes after several Republicans, including former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, former Rep. Susan Molinari (N.Y.) and former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, spoke at the Democratic National Convention last week. Former Hewlett-Packard CEO and onetime Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina has also announced her backing of Biden.