Former Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock of Virginia has declared her intention to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential election.

This announcement during a CNN interview marks another instance of a former GOP lawmaker breaking ranks with the party's support for former President Donald Trump.

As The Hill reported, Comstock's decision is rooted in concerns about Trump's actions and their impact on democratic institutions.

Comstock, who represented Virginia's 10th Congressional District from 2015 to 2019, cited the events of January 6 and Trump's refusal to acknowledge his 2020 election loss as key factors in her decision. She emphasized the importance of moving forward and distancing herself from Trump's influence on the Republican Party.

Former GOP Lawmakers Endorse Harris

Comstock's endorsement of Harris follows a similar move by Denver Riggleman, another former Republican congressman from Virginia. Riggleman recently joined the "Republicans for Harris" initiative, which the Harris campaign launched earlier this month.

Both former representatives have pointed to the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection as a significant factor in their decisions to support Harris.

The "Republicans for Harris" initiative has garnered support from several high-profile GOP figures, indicating a growing trend of Republican defectors distancing themselves from Trump's influence within the party.

This movement reflects the ongoing internal divisions within the GOP regarding Trump's candidacy and his impact on the party's future.

Comstock's decision to support Harris is not entirely surprising, given her history of tensions with Trump during his presidency. She was among a group of about two dozen Republican lawmakers who called for Trump to drop out of the 2016 presidential race following the release of audio recordings in which he made sexually inappropriate comments about women.

Comstock's Criticism Of Trump And The GOP

During her CNN interview, Comstock did not hold back in her criticism of Trump and the current state of the Republican Party. She expressed her disapproval of what she perceives as the most misogynistic ticket in history, referring to Trump and his running mate, Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio.

Comstock stated:

I mean, this is the most misogynist ticket we've ever had. This is not something that my party should accept. Not to mention he's a felon, not to mention we still have cases where, you know, he took classified documents.

Comstock's strong words reflect her deep-seated concerns about the direction of the Republican Party under Trump's influence. She also revealed that she had not voted for Trump in either the 2016 or 2020 elections, further emphasizing her long-standing opposition to his leadership.

Legal Challenges Facing Trump

Comstock also touched upon the ongoing legal challenges facing Trump in her interview. She referenced the classified documents case, which a judge recently dismissed. The case had involved 40 criminal charges accusing Trump of mishandling classified documents and obstructing government efforts to retrieve them from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

However, Comstock noted that Trump was convicted in the hush money case in New York earlier this year. Additionally, she mentioned that Trump still faces two other cases related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. These legal issues continue to concern Comstock and other Republicans who have chosen to distance themselves from the former president.

The ongoing legal battles and their potential impact on Trump's candidacy remain a significant factor in the political landscape as the 2024 presidential election approaches.

For Republicans like Comstock and Riggleman, these issues have played a crucial role in their decision to support Harris over their party's presumptive nominee.

Conclusion

Former Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock's decision to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential election represents a significant break from her party's support for Donald Trump.

Her endorsement, along with that of former Rep. Denver Riggleman, highlights the growing divide within the Republican Party. Comstock's criticism of Trump's actions, particularly regarding the events of January 6 and his refusal to accept the 2020 election results, underscores the ongoing concerns some Republicans have about Trump's impact on democracy.