Representative Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, one of the most prominent Republican critics of former President Donald J. Trump, endorsed a dozen candidates on Tuesday whom he described as defenders of democracy.
Half of them are Democrats who are running against Republican election deniers to become governor or secretary of state, offices that oversee or have substantial influence over the administration of elections. Those positions could empower election deniers to throw future elections into chaos, including by trying to overturn the result of the next presidential contest.
Mr. Kinzinger, who is retiring, is one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Mr. Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, and one of two serving on the congressional committee investigating the attack.
“Now more than ever, it’s critical we elect leaders up and down the ballot who are loyal to the Constitution and willing to be a bulwark for democracy — regardless of their political party affiliation,” Mr. Kinzinger said in a statement. “We must set partisan politics and ideology aside in order to preserve our nation’s democracy and demand accountability in our leaders.”
Mr. Kinzinger’s political action committee, Country First, will raise funds, advertise and contact voters on behalf of the endorsees.
The six Democrats are:
Katie Hobbs, the Arizona secretary of state, who is running for governor against Kari Lake
Josh Shapiro, the Pennsylvania attorney general, who is running for governor against Doug Mastriano
Cisco Aguilar, who is running for secretary of state of Nevada against Jim Marchant
Jocelyn Benson, the Michigan secretary of state, who is running for re-election against Kristina Karamo
Adrian Fontes, who is running for secretary of state of Arizona against Mark Finchem
Steve Simon, who is running for re-election as secretary of state of Minnesota against Kim Crockett
Mr. Kinzinger also endorsed Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s Republican secretary of state, who resisted Mr. Trump’s attempts to overturn the presidential election results in Georgia; Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska, who voted to convict Mr. Trump in his impeachment trial; and Evan McMullin, an independent candidate running against Senator Mike Lee, Republican of Utah.
Less prominent candidates on the list are Larry Lazor, a Republican running for Congress in Connecticut; Clint Smith, an independent congressional candidate in Arizona; and Thomas Knecht, a Republican running for the Minnesota House.
Source: Elections - nytimes.com
