The "Haley Voters for Harris" political action committee has received a cease and desist letter from former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley.

According to CBS News, the committee, which has rebranded to support Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign, is accused of unlawfully using Haley's name. In a letter sent Tuesday by Haley's legal representatives, the group was instructed to stop using her name and likeness.

Legal Battle Over Name Usage

Haley's legal team emphasized that the group must "cease and desist from any unlawful use of Ambassador Haley's name in your political action committee name, and from any use of her name, image, or likeness that implies her support for the election of Kamala Harris as President of the United States."

Haley's campaign clarified that she supports Harris' opponent and any implication of her support for Harris is "intentionally false and misleading." Fox News was the first to report the cease and desist letter.

Group Reviews Legal Letter

In response to the letter, the "Haley Voters for Harris" group stated they are reviewing the letter with legal counsel. The group maintained that they "do not claim to represent Ambassador Haley or her views."

They also asserted their rights to engage with voters and encourage support for Vice President Harris, stating, "Our rights to engage with voters and encourage them to vote for Vice President Harris – who in our view is the clear better choice for the country – will not be suppressed."

Haley's Primary Campaign Influence

The group, composed of anti-Trump supporters and former volunteers from Haley's GOP primary campaign, had initially worked with the Biden campaign.

Haley continued to receive substantial GOP primary votes even after dropping out of the race shortly after Super Tuesday in March. Following President Biden's withdrawal from the race on Sunday and his endorsement of Harris, the group shifted its support to Harris.

While Harris has garnered enough pledged delegate support to likely secure the nomination, the official nominee will be decided during the party's virtual roll call in early August.

In battleground states, Haley's primary vote totals exceeded the 2020 general election margin between Biden and Trump. For instance, in Pennsylvania, Haley received 158,000 votes, or 16.6% of the GOP primary vote, while Biden won by over 80,000 votes.

Harris Campaign Welcomes Haley Supporters

Austin Weatherford, the Harris campaign's national Republican engagement director, emphasized that non-Trump Republican voters are welcome in their campaign.

Weatherford said:

Our democracy is at its best when Americans speak up and participate in the election process. While the MAGA movement continues to push away voters who care about the future of our democracy, standing strong with our allies against foreign adversaries, and working across the aisle to get things done for the American people, the Harris campaign will keep working hard to earn their support.

Weatherford previously served as an aide to former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a vocal Trump critic and Harris supporter since Biden's endorsement of her.

Group's Suggestions for Running Mate

The "Haley Voters for Harris" group has suggested that Harris choose a moderate running mate. They specifically mentioned Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.

"Unlike Joe Biden, we believe she doesn't need to consolidate her base," a senior adviser said, pointing to initial enthusiasm among Democratic voters for Harris' candidacy. "And so we hope that her campaign will be focused on expanding to the center of the country."

The group believes their work is crucial in defining Harris to the public amid Republican efforts to shape her image negatively. "We feel that our work in some ways is almost more important, because she's less defined to the public and Republicans are trying to paint her in a way that is not reflective of reality," a group representative added.

Conclusion

The "Haley Voters for Harris" group has come under legal scrutiny from Nikki Haley for using her name, leading to a cease and desist letter. The group, originally supporting Biden, has now shifted its backing to Harris following Biden's exit from the race.

As the Democratic nomination process continues, the Harris campaign aims to attract disaffected Republicans, while the group suggests Harris choose a moderate running mate. Haley has firmly endorsed Trump, indicating a significant political divide as the election season progresses.