Jeff Flake Endorses Kamala Harris, Citing Her Foreign Policy Acumen and Ability to Unite

Former Republican Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona publicly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, praising her understanding of foreign policy and advocating for tougher border restrictions. In a segment aired on ABC News‘ “This Week,” Flake expressed his support for Harris, emphasizing her potential to unify the nation and her respect for the voters’ mandate.

Jeff Flake, who recently stepped down from his role as ambassador to Turkey on September 1, explained his timing for the endorsement by stating, “I couldn’t participate in political activities in my role as ambassador.” Addressing ABC’s anchor Martha Raddatz, Flake highlighted the importance of the rule of law, stating, “It’s difficult to support a candidate who, having lost an election, tries to use the powers of the presidency to overturn that election, which is anything but respect for the rule of law.” He noted that this sentiment resonates with other conservative Republicans.

In addition to his appearance on ABC, Flake detailed his endorsement in an interview with the Arizona Republic. He is among a growing list of Republicans publicly backing Harris, including former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter, Liz Cheney, former Representative of Wyoming.

Since leaving the Senate in 2019, Flake has been a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump and has urged Republicans to distance themselves from his influence. Flake also showed support for Joe Biden in 2020, aligning with numerous former GOP Congress members who backed Biden’s candidacy.

Discussing Harris’s capabilities, Flake stated, “She is ready to serve as commander in chief.” He pointed to her performance at the Munich Security Conference and the recent presidential debate, adding, “It was really stark watching the debate the other day and hearing the former president not be able to even cheer for Ukraine. That’s a big issue for me.”

Regarding Harris’s recent visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, Flake acknowledged that her border policies face scrutiny, especially given a recent ABC News/Ipsos poll indicating voters believed Trump was better suited to handle border issues by a margin of 10 points. Nevertheless, he welcomed her proposal for stricter asylum restrictions, referencing her experience as a prosecutor and attorney general, “She knows what it takes.”

Flake conveyed optimism about Harris’s ability to unite voters across the political divide, particularly moderate and conservative Republicans. He concluded by stressing the importance of a bipartisan approach to lasting immigration reform, a stance he has maintained throughout his political career.