Former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan (R) called on Republicans and Independents to support Vice President Kamala Harris (D), asserting that casting a vote for her is an act of patriotism. Duncan addressed the audience with a direct appeal, suggesting he didn’t need to dissuade anyone present from supporting Donald Trump.
Instead, his focus was on reaching out to Republicans and Independents who are weary of defending Trump’s actions. “I don’t need to convince anyone here to vote against Trump,” Duncan stated. “I’m concentrating on those Republicans and Independents who are exhausted from making excuses for Trump.”
He was candid about the state of his party, criticizing it for losing its traditional values. “If we are honest with ourselves, the Republican Party is no longer civil or conservative. It has become chaotic and irrational,” he said, earning strong applause. “The only sensible step is to move on from Trump.”
Duncan recalled the backlash he faced from fellow Republicans during the 2020 election when he supported Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R) in certifying the election results, rather than aligning with Trump. He described the personal security concerns his family faced due to threats incited by Trump’s election rhetoric.
“Our party now resembles a cult dedicated to a criminal,” Duncan charged.
He praised Harris’s legal acumen and leadership qualities, contrasting them with Trump’s capabilities. “Kamala Harris has a prosecutorial mindset and a steady hand that Trump could never offer,” Duncan remarked. “To my Republican friends: Supporting Kamala Harris in 2024 does not make you a Democrat; it makes you a patriot.”
Duncan was not the sole Republican voice at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday. Olivia Troye, a former aide to ex-Vice President Mike Pence, also spoke, criticizing Trump for undermining the intelligence community, military leaders, and democratic processes, and warned that he continues to do so.