Testimonials
“The Republican party right now is nothing that Ronald Reagan or Abraham Lincoln or Teddy Roosevelt or any other true Republican would recognize.”
Bill
Arizona
Transcript for Bill
We've become tribal.
We've dismissed some of the great important human factors that have made this such a great country for over 240 years.
I'd like the Republican party to be a big tent again, and I submit that I may be a RINO.
But anybody that adheres to the Republican parties platform now, and the people running, are PINOs.
And somebody said, "Well, what's a PINO?"
And I said, "A PINO is Patriot In Name Only."
So those people are PINOs.
“What scares me most about today’s Republican party is that it is totally focused on promoting itself. It is simply revolving around one personality who has neither the character, nor the ability to govern our country as it needs to be governed.”
Kevin
Arizona
Transcript for Kevin
It is simply revolving around one personality who has neither the character, nor the ability to govern our country as it needs to be governed.
It's all about him.
And too much of what Donald Trump has done and plans to do.
Senators and legislators and Representatives are afraid of him and afraid of his base.
That if they do not support him and agree with everything he says, basically kiss his ring, that he will turn on them.
And he expects his base to turn on them also.
Which has happened in too many cases.
And that means rather than electing the best person, the best qualified candidate, we're electing a person who one man, Donald Trump, who has proven himself totally unqualified, says to elect.
That is frightening.
“These people aren’t interested in governing everyone. They’re interested in making themselves the big man in the room. And that is not American. That is anti-Americanism.”
Sue
Arizona
Transcript for Sue
They're interested in making themselves the big man in the room.
And that is not American.
That is anti-Americanism.
I did not wear a uniform for 24 years to watch this happen to my country.
In fact, If we let them run our state, that's exactly what they're gonna do to us.
They're going to impose their view of America, not what America is.
“I can’t think of one word to describe the Republican party except “lost.” They are not based in reality. How do you make legitimate, rational governing decisions if you don’t have a foundation in reality?”
Tom
Arizona
Transcript for Tom
They are not based in reality.
How do you make legitimate, rational governing decisions if you don't have a foundation in reality?
If you can't distinguish between truth and a lie?
Between truth and falsehoods?
These Republican candidates are spending so much time talking about the Big Lie, the stolen election.
They're not focusing on the real issues confronting Arizona and the country.
If they're elected, we're gonna get government based upon falsehoods.
That's threatening.
I mean, our democracy is at stake.
Our constitutional Republican is at stake.
Every single thing that they say and do that is inconsistent with reality is another nail in the coffin of our American democracy.
“When the Republican party started to become more divisive and, in my opinion, more nationalistic, I had to distance myself from their rhetoric.”
Cheryl
Arizona
Transcript for Cheryl
One word to describe today's GOP would be, self-centered.
I'm a charter school principal.
So I have a really strong desire to be active in my community.
And I work with a very diverse population.
So when the Republican party started to become more divisive and, in my opinion, more nationalistic, I had to distance myself from their rhetoric.
“I love liberty. I love the Constitution. The Republican party left those concepts. I am petrified about the direction of my country. And it’s almost exclusively the cause of the Republican party.”
Linda
Arizona
Transcript for Linda
And I always say, "I didn't leave the party. The party left me."
My beliefs haven't, I mean, I change my mind on issues, but my fundamental philosophical beliefs have not changed.
I love liberty.
I love the Constitution.
The Republican party left those concepts.
I am petrified about the direction of my country.
And it's almost exclusively the cause of the Republican party.
Yes, the Democrats have gone too far left sometimes, but the Republican party has, dare I say, become nearly fascist.
They're not at heart fascists, but what they are at heart are cowards.
So I would say get some courage because your job, even your friends, your philosophy is not more important than truth, and it's not more important than your integrity.
And someday you're gonna regret that you didn't have the courage to find those things.
“I’ve been a lifelong registered Republican, but at this stage of the game, I would jokingly call myself a “recovering Republican” right now…I don’t share a lot of the values that seem to be predominant within the party at this point in time.”
John
Ohio
Transcript for John
I've been a lifelong registered Republican, but at this stage of the game, I would jokingly call myself a "recovering Republican" right now.
In that I don't share a lot of the values that seem to be predominant within the party at this point in time.
In a former life I was an educator and I said, there's a lot of behavior that I've seen this year, that, I was a high school principal at one time, said I would've been fired.
And should've been if I'd exhibited any of those behaviors, you know, by the community that I was in.
And that seems to be accepted behavior this year.
Actually for the last couple years, that really concerns me.
And I don't want my...I don't wanna be judged with my political affiliation by that kind of behavior.
“Trump has destroyed a Republican party. He is supporting people who are bullies and liars. Do not vote for them in the primaries. Don’t accept their values as yours.”
Koorosh
Texas
Transcript for Koorosh
And again in 2020.
And if he decides to run again in 2024, I'll vote against him then too.
Trump has destroyed a Republican party.
He is supporting people who are bullies and liars.
Do not vote for them in the primaries.
Don't accept their values as yours.
You need to look deep in your heart and decide what kind of values you have.
When Trump came out and he said it was okay, all of a sudden hate came out.
The white supremacist came out.
They said, "oh, it's okay for us to say this."
Please don't.
Pick someone who talks kindly of others who thinks of all Americans, not just himself.
And who wants to make sure that our government can function.
“So I am a Democrat because I’m forced to sort of be one.”
Winter
Oregon
Transcript for Winter
He wanted his face and his voice in all the media all the time. He wanted constant exaggerated praise. He wanted heaps and heaps of money. He wanted fixers – wanted to be the person who said, "I did it." Unless he didn't like it.
So I am a Democrat because I'm forced to sort of be one.
“I don’t think it’s really a party right now. I think it’s a bunch of lemmings that are following the lead lemming over the cliff.”
Nancy
Arizona
Transcript for Nancy
I am no longer a Republican. I am a proud, independent. I have no interest in affiliating with what used to be a party of class.
I don't think it's really a party right now. I think it's a bunch of lemmings that are following the lead lemming over the cliff.
And I just don't understand how anybody with really more than two gray cells between their ears. Or with a strong, real Christianity belief in Christianity or, or faith, or, um, anybody that follows the Jesus that I follow can think that the Republican party is where they want to be right now.
“I have never felt so sad about the state of this country in my entire life…and unfortunately, there are some people that are trying to destroy this country from the inside.”
Alan
Arizona
Transcript for Alan
Everything that I saw on television just made me want to distance myself from them because they didn't represent me. I'm not sure they represent their constituency.
I have never, never felt so sad about the state of this country in my entire life. I mean, I, I have a flag out for, um, we live in the greatest country in the world.
And unfortunately there's some people that are trying to destroy this country from the inside. And that's what scares me the most.
“It is the party that has left me, not me leaving the party and in my mind, principle and devotion to the constitution and the rule of law is much more important than a political party.”
Lee
Georgia
Transcript for Lee
And United Methodist minister for a slightly longer period of time.
The principles of the party have been undermined, subjugated by all sorts of strange forces that are really part of the lowest denominator of humankind.
The party has become adrift. It is the party that has left me, not me leaving the party and in my mind, principle and devotion to the constitution and the rule of law is much more important than a political party.
America needs a two party system, and we need the Republican Party to reform itself. And there are signs of light there, but there's amazing cloud of darkness that continues and persists.
“So many people have died for our right to vote. It’s actually a sacred thing…and that’s how America should be.”
Chris
Michigan
Transcript for Chris
I was so impressed my first time, when I realized how strong the process really is, you don't, you don't know until you take a training and you don't know until you're actually in. Helping with the process, how strong it is.
So many people have died for our right to vote. It's actually a sacred thing. And. I think most people understand that. And we work as a team to make sure that that vote is taken care of and that's how America should be.
So have confidence in your people. Next time you vote. Look at the people working really hard behind the scenes, ensuring that your vote works.
“My final straw was the day that Donald Trump was elected president. I said the only thing I can do is no longer be registered as a Republican.”
Gary
New York
Transcript for Gary
The party has shifted drastically to the right. And it, it stands on a lot of principles that sound like they're family value oriented. What, in fact, they're not at all caring at all about a family.
My final straw was the day that Donald Trump was elected president. I said, the only thing I can do is no longer be registered as a Republican in that very day that he won the next day, I went to my local office and became an independent.
It just, it disgusts me if some of them would stand up and do the right thing. It would mean the world to me.
I don't think they're fooling some of us as much as they think they are.
“I want to vote for people who are held accountable. People who have integrity. People who do not believe in conspiracy theories or who attempted to overturn the election. Because I consider that to be very dangerous.”
Laura
Texas
Transcript for Laura
I'm a former Republican.
I'm very concerned about the midterm elections as well as the elections in 2024.
I want to vote for people who are held accountable.
People who have integrity.
People who do not believe in conspiracy theories or who attempted to overturn the election.
Because I consider that to be very dangerous.
We do not want people in government who are part of or support this cult of personality.
“Had the insurrection worked, had he gotten his way and got the vote overturned, democracy’s out the door.”
Mike
Tennessee
Transcript for Mike
Born and raised in east Tennessee.
I live in Knoxville now.
I would say that I was 42 years of Republican until this last election.
And I'm not a Democrat, but I cannot identify myself as a Republican.
We don't listen to anybody other than Trump anymore.
And it's very, very scary.
I don't want to be a citizen of a country in a dictatorship.
And I know that sounds extreme to say it that way.
You have no idea how close we came to it.
Had the insurrection worked, had he gotten his way and got the vote overturned, democracy's out the door.
Then all kinds of extremism is now a fair game.
All of it is.
And so we came close.
And if he gets reelected...if he gets elected again for another term, I think he would probably seize that opportunity to bring it all the way home.
And I'm scared to death of that.
“They’re going to try to be the junior Donald Trump and act the same way and do the same way…at which point I will leave the party because I can’t support any of that.”
Derrick
Tennessee
Transcript for Derrick
I'm a Christian and I like to think I have strong morals and ethics. The problem is. The Republican party that I've spent years supporting has abandoned me.
I mean, I don't think disappointing even close to how I feel. Everything about the Republican party changed, um, overnight practice. Because of the popularity of Donald Trump.
Um, so you know, it's a different, that's why I feel like I'm in, I'm abandoned. I'm just on an island. And I know a lot of people feel the same way I do.
I'm worried about some of the Republicans that will move forward to try to run for president. And they're going to try to be the junior Donald. And act the same way and do the same way. That's my biggest concern with the party. And at which point I will leave the party, um, because I can't support any of that.
It just continues. It's not the people I want representing me.
“After January 6, when some of the Republicans came out against what happened, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham. They did a complete about face turn around in such a short time, because they were afraid of what Trump would say or do. And I call that tribe over truth.”
Ellen
Florida
Transcript for Ellen
until 2016. After January 6th, when some of the Republicans came out against what happened, um, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, Lindsey grant. They get a complete about face turn around in such a short time, because they were afraid of what Trump would say or do. And I call that tribe over truth.
I want the truth. We know you're lying. Stop lying about the election. It was not stolen.
Stop lying about. Trump said or did we all saw it happen, live on television.
“The Republican party now, to be a good Republican, you have to basically I agree with whatever Donald Trump says…And that’s just not the way it should be.”
Jim
Pennsylvania
Transcript for Jim
I am a former Republican.
Basically I was a Republican my whole life until about 2018 where I couldn't accept being a Republican anymore.
The Republican party now is nothing like it used to be.
The Republican party now, to be a good Republican, you have to basically I agree with whatever Donald Trump says.
Not any specific philosophy or anything like that It's just if you want to be a good Republican you have to agree with Donald Trump.
And that's just not the way it should be.
Right now It's just like a cult of personality.
And that's just totally against the Republican party that I grew up with.
“And someday, I don’t know when I hope sooner than later, people like Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger and Rusty Bowers, time will show that they were the true patriots. They were the true Americans defending our Jeffersonian democracy.”
Stephen
Wisconsin
Transcript for Stephen
Trump and his cronies, they will occupy the dustbin of history.
It's become a party of grievance and conspiracy theories.
Liz Cheney, of course, I'm sure you all know, she's been very outspoken about what Donald Trump did regarding January 6.
She has received numerous death threats.
She's been stripped of her leadership role in the GOP caucus.
It takes a lot less courage to go into a voting booth and cast a private ballot than it takes to do what Liz Cheney and Rusty Bowers have done.
So I will appeal to you this year when you make your vote, don't just vote for a candidate who has an R behind their name.
Make sure that R is not a T for Trump because these people who continue to embrace what Donald Trump stood for, whatever that is.
They are not the true patriots.
Like Ted Kennedy said, "Time has a way of clarifying past events."
And someday, I don't know when I hope sooner than later, people like Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger and Rusty Bowers, time will show that they were the true patriots.
They were the true Americans defending our Jeffersonian democracy.
“The Republican party is promoting everything from anti-Semitism, racism. That is not my party. I can no longer be a Republican.”
James
Pennsylvania
Transcript for James
However, last week or a couple of weeks ago I switched parties.
I'm now, and I would call myself a "DINO."
A "Democrat in name only," but in fact I'm quite a Democrat at this point.
The Republican party, I think, poses a clear danger to American democracy.
It's no longer something you can simply say, "Oh well. They're going to get over it."
This is horrible.
The Republican party is promoting everything from anti-Semitism, racism.
That is not my party.
I can no longer be a Republican.
I can't abide by this.
This dangerous to the nation, dangerous to me and my children personally.
This Republican party is no longer a party that promotes rights.
Is no longer a promote a party that promotes reason.
That's what it used to be.
It used to be the party of rights and reason.
“And, you know, protection and democracy is kind of like my number one sole focus right now. And the rest of this, yeah. We’ll figure it out.”
Dave
Pennsylvania
Transcript for Dave
And two weeks ago I registered as a Democrat.
It was kind of like mourning the death of an old friend but something I had to do and I just can't fathom where the Republican party has been or where they're going.
And can't see being a part of that.
I don't remember a Republican party that was this just vile.
As long as you have a functioning democracy, you know it might be bad for a couple of years, but it's not something that's going to be permanent and you can change things through an election process.
And, you know, protection and democracy is kind of like my number one sole focus right now.
And the rest of this, yeah.
We'll figure it out.
“I will never, ever vote for a Trumpian candidate again.”
Rob
Missouri
Transcript for Rob
Louis, Missouri, and I am here today
because the Republican party, after my
entire adult life, no longer wants me.
There's two criteria now to be in the GOP.
First is you must be obedient to Donald
Trump, and two, you must hate and
treat as your enemy any and everyone
who doesn't follow rule number one.
And I can safely say that I will never,
ever vote for a Trumpian candidate again.
Not in a primary, not in
a general election, never.
My party left me, and I
guess I'm an independent now.
“I have been a Republican since I was 18 years old, and I had to leave my party the last presidential election.”
Pat
Georgia
Transcript for Pat
from Savannah, Georgia.
And I have been a Republican since
I was 18 years old, and have always
been a staunch Republican and
very involved in politics, local
politics and national politics.
And I had to leave my party
the last presidential election.
And that's the first time I've
said it out loud to anyone, but
I had to do what I had to do.
You know, I couldn't find a
Republican in DC that would
stand up except for Liz Cheney.
I became a huge fan of Liz Cheney.
I feel like she needs support
thrown behind her, but how much
power does she really have?
I feel like we're losing it.
I really feel like we are
literally losing the party.
“Here is my voting record since I’ve been old enough to vote Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Reagan, Bush, Perot, Doll, Bush, Bush, McCain, Romney, Clinton, Biden.”
Linda
Indiana
Transcript for Linda
Here is my voting record since I've been old enough to vote.
Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Reagan, Bush, Perot, Doll, Bush, Bush, McCain, Romney, Clinton.
As you can see, I voted Republican all of my adult life up until 2016.
It's not just Trump. It's the Republican party.
So I'm voting Democrats up and down the ticket. I will never ever vote for a Republican again, who takes away rights.
Who insists that a 10 year old baby have a baby. That's ridiculous. It's cruel. And it's unAmerican. Sorry to be emotional, but that's my story.
“The cowardice of the Republican leaders led me to kind of start fading away from the Republican Party.”
Donna
Georgia
Transcript for Donna
I live right outside of Atlanta,
Georgia, and I am a lifelong Republican.
I was extremely disappointed when
Trump was nominated to start.
So going way back to 2016, I
think that really kind of made
me question a lot of things.
I thought the Republican party would
rise to the challenge, would realize
that he wasn't in keeping with our
principles, and that would be the end.
But the cowardice of the Republican
leaders, led me to kind of start
fading away from the Republican party.
And again, I'm no left-wing liberal.
I mean, I am somebody who worked for
Ronald Reagan, and I could not see
any connection between Republican
principles and what leaders like Kevin
McCarthy and Mitch McConnell were doing.
So I became an independent.
I started researching other candidates.
I started voting for other
parties and other people.
January 6th to me was
a point of no return.
When I saw what was happening at
the Capitol and I saw the excuses
that were made and the silence
from the GOP leadership, that
convinced me that this was not
going to be an easy reconciliation.
And in fact, I wasn't going
to be able to reconcile my
principles with the party anymore.
Where's the Republican conscience?
We don't have a conscience anymore,
and that is really scaring me.
“They are morally bankrupt on just about any democracy issue.”
Alfred
Ohio
Transcript for Alfred
I've been up until 2020 a
die-hard Republican conservative.
The Republican that I was years ago is not
the Republican party that I know today.
They are morally bankrupt on
just about any democracy issue.
I don't see any change
until the 2022 elections.
That's going to determine the
direction of the Republican party.
But it doesn't mean I'm
going to flip the switch.
I have to see it in action.
In other words, action more than talk.
“When I look at the GOP as I’ve grown up and the GOP today, I don’t even recognize them.”
Claire
Kentucky
Transcript for Claire
I live in Lexington, Kentucky.
I am a disgruntled,
disillusioned Republican.
I'm embarrassed to say I voted for Trump.
I had been disgusted all
through Trump's presidency, but
January 6th was the last straw.
When I look at the GOP as I've
grown up and the GOP today,
I don't even recognize them.
The GOP, I used to think, was a party
of compassion and intelligence and
reading and understanding the issues.
Whereas today, they're off on
whatever Trump says is gospel.
“I will continue to withhold my vote until I see a return, a movement toward coherence, integrity, good faith.”
Martin
Tennessee
Transcript for Martin
I live in Nashville, Tennessee.
When I was a young man, the GOP I
associated with was really the party
of ideas, full of intellectuals,
serious people, good people.
And what I see now is that there's
at best a pandering to the base
that fuels this unhealthy populism.
That's at best!
At worst, I see at least toleration for,
but also jumping, you know, completely
into these conspiracy theories.
When we start tolerating this
stuff, well, that's a cancer.
I will continue to withhold my vote until
I see a return movement toward coherence,
toward integrity, toward good faith.
“I feel like I’m in limbo right now because we need a two party system, a strong two party system. And we don’t have that right now.”
Kim
Florida
Transcript for Kim
am a former Republican.
On January 6th, that night, or I guess
it was the next day, I went online
and just changed my party registration
to NPA and said I'd had enough.
I feel like I'm in limbo right
now because we need a two party
system, a strong two party system,
and we don't have that right now.
And as long as it's a party of conspiracy
theories, we're never going to have it.
“But the final one that pushed me way over the edge was the January 6th event, which Republicans called it a different event. I call insurrection riot or probably couple other terms”
Mike
Michigan
Transcript for Mike
The moment I got pushed away from the Republican party, was probably the whole Trump thing, and really in the beginning, I didn't believe Trump would be elected, I just thought that he was too far out there. You know, game show, host, billionaire seven bankruptcies, all this stuff that we've heard of litany of stuff about Trump.
But, when he got elected, I was kind of shocked. And I was more shocked that more many of my friends had voted for him. But I wasn't behind him at all. I think,his personality and his narcissism and all the stuff that goes along with him and his honesty and integrity and you name, I can name you a 50 different adjectives, that pushed me.
But the final one that pushed me way over the edge was the January 6th event, which Republicans called it a different event. I call insurrection riot or probably couple other terms. I couldn't repeat.
they left me in a dust because I wouldn't follow them
“I do have a concern that the Republican party has reached a point where it no longer fully reflects the principles and values that made it in line with my feelings.”
Doug
Ohio
Transcript for Doug
people that I would never vote for.
I've been a Republican for many,
many years, and have maintained
my Republican registration.
But I do have a concern that the
Republican party has reached a point
where it no longer fully reflects the
principles and values that I think
made it in line with my feelings.
You know, we started out with the Tea
Party using a pejorative term for those
people that they disagreed with in the
Republican party, that term "RINO."
You know, I certainly would probably
fit their definition of that term.
“This party’s no longer looking for solutions. It’s looking for only what drives them to power using anger and misinformation and lies to get what they want.”
Baoky
Georgia
Transcript for Baoky
from the state of Georgia.
Been a Republican all my life
since the college Republican days.
I still consider myself a Republican,
but I consider this Republican
party to be one that's in name only.
It is simply unfathomable to
me that today's Republican
party has become anti-science,
anti-innovation, anti-business,
and very flat earth oriented.
This party is no longer
looking for solutions.
It's looking for only what drives them
to power, using anger and misinformation
and lies to get what they want.
“I’m very disappointed about where the party has been going.”
Eliza
Florida
Transcript for Eliza
I'm a registered Republican.
Now I vote for who I want to vote for in
every election, which increasingly is not
Republicans because I'm very disappointed
about where the party has been going.
Back in the 2016 primary, all those
guys who were very clearly against
Trump and standing up against
Trump flipped and endorsed him.
The party decided it was
more important to win than to
maintain some sort of integrity.
As the party gets more extreme, the
moderates are leaving, and what's left
is the people who are more extreme.
So it's only going to get worse.
“I’m especially concerned about those who want to use their religious beliefs in making decisions for all of us, they want to dismantle the separation of church and state.”
Joan
Ohio
Transcript for Joan
Former President Trump is a major problem.
He's not the only one, I'm especially concerned about those who want to use their religious beliefs in making decisions for all of us, they want to dismantle the separation of church and state.
We've rightly had pride in our peaceful transition from one administration to the next, but no longer.
Trump has set to destroy our well run election system and all of it to regain power for himself.
He's endorsing candidates for secretaries of state who, by his story, that there was massive fraud when there was no fraud
“The cult of Trump is the new norm, and I think that’s disastrous.”
Greg
Florida
Transcript for Greg
I live in central Florida.
I've been a registered Republican since
I was 18, and very much second-guessing
that decision as the days creep on.
I just never thought a party of
strong character and moral value
could shift so far away from its
founding, and it just has me sick.
I don't think there's anything about
the current climate of the GOP that
aligns with anything evangelicals should
stand for, and I just think it's crazy.
The cult of Trump is the new norm,
and I think that's disastrous
and pretty much a tipping point for
the future of this party in America.
“January 6th was definitely my breaking point… I lost friends over it.”
Donna
Pennsylvania
Transcript for Donna
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Hi, I'm Donna.
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I live in Western Pennsylvania, and I
am totally disenfranchised from the GOP.
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Been a registered Republican
for half a century.
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And I don't believe in
anything they stand for now.
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January 6th was definitely
my breaking point.
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It affected me like 9/11,
but it was so much worse.
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Because on 9/11, nobody
rooted for the airplanes.
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I lost friends over it.
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I cannot wrap my head around
the fact that anybody sees any
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right in what was done that day.
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It's the overthrow of our democracy.
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They wanted to do what that defeated
former guy wanted them to do.
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The GOP to me now stands
for hate and lies.
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A red vote in Pennsylvania right
now means the end of what we know as
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democracy and freedom for the individual.
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It's no longer, in the GOP,
what is right or what is wrong.
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It's who thinks they're right and who
they can point at to say they're wrong.
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And that is not the truth.
“They don’t deserve to have power. They’ve given up. They’ve given up on their values.”
Jon
Florida
Transcript for Jon
Florida, and I've been a Republican
since I was 18 years old.
And I was inspired by Ronald
Reagan, the examples that he set,
and as far as the Republican party
nowadays, I don't recognize it.
It's not the party that I signed up for.
And I reject what they're
doing wholeheartedly.
If the Republican party
continues on this way, then they
don't deserve to have power.
They've given up.
They've given up on their values, and
now it's just a wide open power grab.
So that's scary to me, cause
they had the insurrection on
January 6th, and so many of them
supported it then and still do now.
And they know what that is.
They know the danger
of what they're doing.
“It’s become such a party of extremism. Whatever little heart they had is now like a little black dot. It’s completely gone.”
Kimberly
Florida
Transcript for Kimberly
Augustine, Florida.
And I've been a Republican
since I was able to vote at 18.
As I got older and actually learned more
about the platform, I appreciated the
idea of a smaller government, having
more autonomy in the state that you
live, being fiscally responsible.
But they've gotten so far away from
those ideals as far as concentrating
on that and working on that, and it's
become such a party of extremism.
I feel like the Republican party,
whatever little heart they had
is now like a little black dot.
It's completely gone.
There is zero compassion
for your fellow man.
I've never seen anything like it.
“Trump’s refusal to concede and the insurrection of January 6 truly broke me.”
Tim
Pennsylvania
Transcript for Tim
I'm a moderate Republican
from Pennsylvania.
That whole election fraud thing
is just totally out of control.
And there's still people even today that
are still using a great deal of taxpayer
revenue to look for needles in haystacks.
Trump's refusal to concede and
the insurrection of January
6 truly broke me.
“Anthony Gonzalez…I thought he was a great guy, and he did vote to impeach Trump based on that insurrection.”
Vaughn
Ohio
Transcript for Vaughn
I'm from Ohio and frankly I've been a
lifelong Republican, and so I wouldn't
say I've left the Republican party.
But I do feel like the party has left me.
Anthony Gonzalez was the representative
for US district 16 here in Ohio.
I thought he was a great guy.
Then he did vote to impeach
Trump based on that insurrection.
And all of a sudden his family started
getting all kinds of intimidating messages
and he decided not to run for reelection.
That's not politics.
That's much beyond that.
And it's something I just can't
comprehend, let alone understand.
Donald Trump encourages that type of
behavior, where really leaders, good
leaders, are going to call off the dogs.
They're going to criticize people that
are acting that way more than they would
anything else.
It's just unacceptable behavior.
“The Republican party that I joined was interested in promoting democracy and ensuring international cooperation and fiscally conservative.”
Andrea
Pennsylvania
Transcript for Andrea
I'm from suburban Philadelphia, and I am a registered lifelong Republican.
None of the candidates that were available to me in the primary represents the Republican party that I joined.
The Republican party that I joined was interested in promoting democracy and ensuring international cooperation and fiscally conservative.
It was not concerned with taking away rights of women and the right to vote and all those things that we hold very dear in democracy.
The only reason I stay as a Republican at this point is to try and promote those who still represent Republican values that I can be in favor of.
Unfortunately, there's very few of those.
“Trump is bad. We don’t need a narcissistic dictator as our leader. We need someone who stands up for what is right for our country, what is right for our constitution.”
Ted
Tennessee
Transcript for Ted
My first message to Republican members is don't follow Trump.
Trump is bad. We don't need a narcissistic dictator as our leader.
We need someone who stands up for what is right for our country, what is right for our constitution.
We need someone to stand up and do that.
There is a need for a true leadership, who stands out from above the rest, who puts forth policies and procedures that we can live with and manage within our society, that is acceptable to both Democrats and Republicans.
You have to work together.
Man up, get it done.
Be a leader. Don't follow Trump period.
I think he's friends with Putin.
He's a dictator.
He sees that Putin can do whatever he wants and he wants to do the same thing.
It's the way he ran his companies. It's my way or the highway you're fired. Well, Trump you're fired in my book.
“I hear some say about Donald Trump, ‘I don’t particularly care for the man, but I like many of the things that he does.’ And my answer to that is since when can you separate the cancer that is Donald Trump from the body of his politics and actions? And I would say you can’t.”
Roger
Utah
Transcript for Roger
"I don't particularly care for the men, but I like many of the things that he does."
And my answer to that is since when can you separate the cancer that is Donald Trump from the body of his politics and his actions?
And I would say you can't.
I think Senator Susan Collins also got it right when she said just a few days ago and I quote, "No one should be afraid of Donald Trump."
Trump called her wack.
That's what Trump calls a person of integrity and truth.
“Can smart and good people be duped? Yes, we are watching in real time.”
Julie
Colorado
Transcript for Julie
Can smart and good people be duped? Yes, we are watching in real time.
This is after 65 court cases were thrown out, after multiple recounts, after Republican governors who personally supported Trump certified the results for Biden. After Bill Barr's Department of Justice said there was no widespread fraud.
Barr told Trump that Biden had won fair and square, and out went Barr.
But conservative media edits out these facts and keeps on painting their preferred narrative that the election was stolen and any Republican who says it wasn't is a traitor
We Americans are not immune from being emotionally manipulated by political leaders. Thanks for listening.
“The Republican party became the party of Trumpism…It is no longer the party of principle.”
Gregory
New Jersey
Transcript for Gregory
I'm from New Jersey.
I'm a former Republican, was a Republican up until the 2016 election.
Pretty much voted party line up until 2016.
What changed in 2016?
The Republican party became the party of Trumpism.
Rude, misogynistic racist, self-serving.
It is no longer the party of principle.
It is no longer the party of smaller government and strong defense.
I am not a Democrat, but I will vote Democrat to make sure the Republicans lose and continue to lose as long as they live in this delusion that is Trump world.
“The Republican Party has gone off on the wrong track.”
Bill
Kentucky
Transcript for Bill
I was registered Republican for 49 years.
I'm not Republican now.
The Republican party has
gone off on the wrong track.
The fact that the Republican party would
embrace Donald Trump was the final straw.
Just because somebody says
something didn't go right and you
didn't like the results doesn't
mean it's an invalid election.
I mean, our country is built on the
idea of properly executed elections
and peaceful transitions of power.
And all of this Stop the Steal stuff
just undermines our entire democracy.
“But I’m not a Republican if Trump and his group represent what the Republican party is.
Ted
South Carolina
Transcript for Ted
But I'm not a Republican if Trump and his group represent what the Republican party is.
I just think it's not right.
And so I have to leave it.
If he's going to be there, I'm not going to vote for him.
I don't necessarily want to vote democratic, but I certainly don't want to vote on Trump's side.
You know what I mean?
I'd rather have a moderate Democrat than have him, and that's saying a lot.
“There’s an old saying in ethics that a good man can be a bad leader, but a bad man can never be a good leader. Our former president indeed was a bad man.”
Mike
Alabama
Transcript for Mike
Our former president indeed was a bad man.
He was arrogant.
He was conceited.
And he was amoral.
Never has a president, had a greater opportunity to change the country for the better and squandered it because of petty personal issues while damaging our constitution in the process.
“Being anti treason does not make you any less of a conservative.”
Cassidy
Nevada
Transcript for Cassidy
I think the Republican party, recently, has tried to make a run towards crazy, the same as the Democrats have. I think in their direction.
And I don't like any of it.
I think that we're banning common sense, we're telling our own narratives, and we're not taking the facts into any consideration.
And right now, I think we're kind of in a dire point.
I think a sane Republican party is critical in saving our nation.
I really do. I believe that with all my power.
If I could tell Republican leaders anything? Stop pandering to what you think people want to hear.
Why don't you show some backbone?
Why don't you show some character like Republicans in the past?
Being anti treason does not make you any less of a conservative.
That's the dumbest thing I've heard in my life.
“There need to be more people that want to challenge [Trump] and his hold on the party.”
Patrick
Pennsylvania
Transcript for Patrick
I live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and I am a former Republican.
I was drawn to the less government, more personal responsibility aspects of the Republican party.
The straw that broke my back with the GOP was back in 2016, really after Donald Trump got elected.
I thought that there would still be a spot for me as kind of a loyal opposition.
You know that we'd still stand for what we believe in as conservatives and as Republicans.
And the party has completely gone off the rails on that.
And it is now Donald Trump's party.
And there's no room left for me in it.
I can't say that I've seen that many that are really willing to stand up to him.
There need to be more people that want to challenge him and his hold on the party.
And I don't know who that is, but when you find me those people I vote for them.
“He’s guilty of insurrection…I believe that every sane human being should start putting pressure on the DOJ for something to happen for that.”
Bill
Florida
Transcript for Bill
I mean, attack science, attack the military, attack the intelligence community, attack the government.
Just attack attack.
And of course, attack the media.
He's guilty of insurrection.
He's guilty of election fraud and he's guilty of conspiracy and all of his co-conspirators are.
And I believe that every sane human being should start putting pressure on the DOJ for something to happen for that.
“When it comes to our democratic way of government, we definitely need a very strong two-party system. And right now the GOP is just completely off the tracks.”p
Roland
Pennsylvania
Transcript for Roland
Both my wife and I were Republicans all of our lives until, well until January 6th.
When it comes to our democratic way of government, we definitely need a very strong two-party system.
And right now the GOP - is just completely off the tracks.
“Everybody that doesn’t support you, you say they’re the enemy of the people. And he says that news medias are the enemy of people, except for Fox News, and Breitbart, and OAN.”
James
Georgia
Transcript for James
Everybody that doesn't support you, you say they're, they're enemy of the people.
And he says that news medias are the enemy of people except for Fox news and Breitbart and OAN.
He has basically convinced people that truth doesn't matter only what you want to believe that matters and actually only what crap comes outta his mouth matters, you know.
I'm sorry, but with the evidence that has been shown on January 6th, with the evidence that's been been said by the people that were his direct inner circle, you know, Bill Barr.
And all the other people, his, his campaign manager saying the election was not stolen.
Basically he has convinced people.
It doesn't matter what the truth is.
It only matters what you wanna believe.
“You know, supposedly the Republican party is supposed to be for the rights of the people. Mastriano’s attendance at the January 6th rally is just completely inappropriate…he is not a Republican.”
Jay
Pennsylvania
Transcript for Jay
I'm a lifelong Republican in Pennsylvania.
You know, supposedly the Republican party is supposed to be for the rights of the people.
Mastriano's attendance at the January 6th rally is just completely inappropriate for any sitting politician.
Simply...he is not a Republican
He's attempting to take away our rights.
He's the opposite of a Republican.
I can't imagine how anybody like him ever gets nominated, let alone elected.
“The modern Republican party, that is that since Trump, just does not speak at all to me.”
Timothy
Pennsylvania
Transcript for Timothy
I'm a Republican in Pennsylvania.
I've been a Republican since I've been old enough to vote because I've always believed the core platform of Republican party spoke sincerely to me.
There's many positive policies I'd like to see enacted, and I believe the Republican party is the best vehicle to bring about these bits.
The modern Republican party, that is that since Trump, just does not speak at all to me.
I see people who repudiate Republican principles daily.
I'm a Republican.
I will not be voting for Mastriano this November.
He doesn't have any traditional Republican values.
I believe it's his compose his opponent to Shapiro will receive my vote.
I just can't imagine how he would be worse.
“I don’t agree with every policy president Bush, Obama and Biden enacted, but I do believe that these men were the right people at the right time…
I have never had that comfort with Trump.”
Jose
California
Transcript for Jose
I have never had that comfort with Trump. The term rhino to me is more a branding gimmick made up by him in order to rally his supporters without regards to what happens to this nation. Now the party I once probably belonged to, has to be better than this in my mind, they use words like freedom. The constitution, Liberty and responsibility. These are not buzzwords to, to rage up blind nationalism they're ideals every citizen owns, and no party has a monopoly on them.
“In 2016, I realized I had reached the end of my ability to continue supporting the Republican candidate”
Steve
California
Transcript for Steve
In 2016, I realized I had reached the end of my ability to continue supporting the Republican candidate I did not vote for Donald Trump. I did not vote for Donald Trump in 2020.
“I won’t vote for another Republican until they change and become a party of the people instead of a party of power and money.”
Judie
Indiana
Transcript for Judie
I won't vote for another Republican until they change and become a party of the people instead of a party of power and money.
“I think the Republican Party today has lost its way.”
Ahsaf
California
Transcript for Ahsaf
I've been a registered Republican since my 18th birthday.
Well, I think the Republican party today has lost its way.
It certainly doesn't represent my core values or I think the core values of many longtime registered Republicans.
President Trump, is a horrible person.
What's going on when it comes to the election of 2020, which he lost, he lost the election. There's no question.
To even discuss it, it's like, it's like trying to prove the earth is round. You know, it's speaking to a flat earther, it's ridiculous.
I fear for the future of our country. I have children.
I don't know what type of a country this is going to be in the future if these people do not change or do not stand up for what's right.
And what they need to do is to stand up for what's right. And fight for what's right.
“If Trump had his way, he would get total control of the government, and you better do what he tells you or he’d make sure you were punished for it. And he doesn’t believe in democracy. He believes in Trump.”
John
Tennessee
Transcript for John
I kind of saw the Republicans as strong military supporting and small government.
If Trump had his way, he would get total control of the government, and you better do what he tells you or he'd make sure you were punished for it.
And he doesn't believe in democracy.
He believes in Trump.
And if that's what the Republicans want to put out there as their reason as why you should vote Republican, I can't do that.
“I don’t currently see a place for me in the current Republican party. I grew up in a red state. I was raised to vote Republican. Um, I was even raised Christian. I am no longer any of the above.”
Ashley
Tennessee
Transcript for Ashley
“The right to vote is our most sacred and basic foundation as Americans.”
Scott
North Carolina
Transcript for Scott
And to me, 2020, we had the most participation in our elections of all time. About 160 million people voted. Which should be celebrated across all political parties. Our goal should be to get as many people into the democratic system as possible. The right to vote is our most sacred and basic foundation as Americans. And that should be something that, you know, it's the year 2021. It should be easy, quick, efficient to be able to vote. There's no reason with all our new technological advancements and everything going on, that we should expect people to spend hours and go through a bunch of loopholes, try and register... IT should, you should be able to register and vote then a half hour.
There should be no reason why it's difficult. And that should be celebrated and praised by all political parties. Now we should be looking at participation rates of voters first, even though we had our election, we still are, we're below 70% of registered voters. We as all Americans should strive for as close to a 100 percent as possible because we want all citizens to be part of the democratic process across all races, genders, creeds.
Everyone should have their right to vote protected and it should be celebrated. And to see the election workers from the 2020 election... the far right has demonized and villainized them through conspiracies when they worked through a pandemic and just against all odds to put on one of the most secure and safe elections in our nation's history under very trying circumstances.
So thank you to all this election workers.
You all are heroes. And the fact that you're getting death threats from certain people is just, it's despicable. I just want to-- I hope y'all, we all can volunteer to be election workers and try and help our democracy in any way we can. And, we all, this is not a time to be on the sidelines at all.
As a veteran I swore an oath to the Constitution. "Against all enemies, foreign and domestic." And I'd do anything to protect everyone's right to vote, no matter who. In America, diversity is our strength. I was lucky enough to grow up in communities with people of all different colors, all different gender/sexual orientations. And it made me, I feel stronger as a person, not being siloed, but hearing different views. Seeing other people's backgrounds--and America's a melting pot--is definitely what makes us the most beautiful country in the world.
But we're failing at that right now and we're taking steps backwards.
I'm still pretty young, I'm going to be 35 this year. And you read the about civil rights and going back to the Civil War and the fights for voting rights and for equality. And the thought that we're going backwards is really distressing.
I have a four-year-old and a one-year-old and I want them to grow up in an America where we celebrate diversity. We accept one another and don't judge one another. And that starts with giving everyone the equal access to the right to vote. That's the foundation where we have to start.
So I just urge everyone to get off the sidelines, all sane Republicans, all moderate Democrats, all progressives, everyone. We have a fight in our country right now. Being on the sidelines is unacceptable right now. There's so many great organizations out there, like the Republican Accountability Project. More Than a Vote is a great organization that fights voter suppression. Veterans for Responsible Leadership. Democracy Docket. There's so many great organizations out there you could help volunteer, could help give funds to.
I just urge everyone.
This is our moment.
This is our time.
So please get off the sidelines, fight for democracy, fight for voting rights.
And just wanted to close with everything going on. And now with some of the news outlets. Fox in particular saying just some horrible things about our military leadership and our generals. I just wanted to throw my support for them and just thank you. Thank them for their decades of service. These are unbelievable Americans and for people like Tucker Carlson to denigrate their service, just because they're striving for diversity equality in our military and want our military represent the entire country. People like Tucker Carlson are despicable, racist, fascist, and they have no place in our country.
So I just urge everyone, please stand up for democracy, stand up for our values and get off the sidelines and fight.
Thanks everyone.
Have a great day.
“I am a former Republican. I was a very proud Republican. It’s a scary place right now.”
Cathe
Pennsylvania
Transcript for Cathe
I'm from Pennsylvania and I was a Republican most of my life, but I'm now an independent.
I have never been a person who has to agree with every policy that somebody supports or believes in.
But I do require sanity in a candidate.
Realism and sanity.
You can argue your point.
Whether it be with science, whether it be with morals, whether it be whatever, you can argue your point.
But crazy conspiracy theories are exactly that and have no place in the running of any government.
It's terrifying. It's absolutely terrifying.
I am a former Republican. I was a very proud Republican.
It's a scary place right now.
“Well, it wasn’t fraud. They counted the votes. He had less; he lost. That’s called a democracy.”
Renee
Texas
Transcript for Renee
There were several states that made it known that because of the way their voting laws were set up, mail-in ballots would not be counted until after live, in-person votes.
So to expect a change in the numbers because of that.
So, when the numbers changed and Trump obviously lost, he claimed it was fraud.
Well, it wasn't fraud.
They counted the votes.
He had less; he lost.
That's called a democracy.
One person wins.
One person loses.
Since that time, he has been claiming voter fraud and trying to overturn our democracy to keep himself in office.
And this is what frightens me the most about the GOP.
“I couldn’t be a part of that.”
Chris
California
Transcript for Chris
I'm from California and
I am a former Republican.
I became a Republican in 1980 watching
Ronald Reagan win the election.
I didn't vote for Trump.
I didn't like him at all
that he could to begin with.
I couldn't even believe that he would
be up for the nomination, was really
disheartening to see the Republican
Party, put him up to even begin with.
June and July of 2020.
And when I started hearing Trump
saying that if, if I lose this election
the election's fraud, and all the things
that were happening with COVID and,
you know, Republican party fighting
against trying to save people's lives,
I just, I couldn't be a part of that.
“I think that Jesus Christ is the example and we see how he lived, how he died and how he conquered all of that evil by being who he was and doing the things that he did. And I think as Christians, we have to follow that lead, not Donald Trump’s.”
Vern
Michigan
Transcript for Vern
I live in Allegan, Michigan
in Western Michigan.
I've lived here my whole life.
And, I have been a Republican
as long as I can remember.
I was a pastor of a church
in rural Western, Michigan.
And, as I pastored there, I noticed
that there was a tremendous amount
of Trump supporters and, what I had a
difficulty with is that I didn't see
how Donald Trump himself lined up at
all with, the walk of Jesus Christ.
When some of my members of
the congregation started
sending me Qanon videos.
I became very concerned because I
knew those to be conspiracy theories.
All I see is that there's a lie
going on that the ends justify the
means, and I am totally against that.
And I think that Jesus Christ is
the example and we see how he lived,
how he died and how he conquered
all of that evil by being who he was
and doing the things that he did.
And I think as Christians, we have to
follow that lead, not Donald Trump's.
“I am probably a moderate conservative, and they have swung way off to the right.”
Jim
Colorado
Transcript for Jim
Those are the ones that I think ultimately should have a consequence involved.
I do believe that Donald Trump and a wide range of people like Lauren Boebert, like Marjorie Taylor Greene, and others, facilitated that and encouraged that.
I think they should be held accountable as well
I am probably a moderate conservative, and they have swung way off to the right
“I just said ‘man, that guy’s not good for the country.'”
Bill
Arizona
Transcript for Bill
I am still a Republican.
I believe I'm the only
Never Trumper in my family.
I was educated as a
high-pressure salesperson.
If, and if you tell something
some person long enough, you know,
they eventually will believe you.
I got away from that.
Didn't like it, didn't like the results.
You didn't sleep good
at night, so to speak.
But when Trump walked down the elevator
and started talking and all the things
he did in his past, I just said, man,
this guy's not good for the country.
He's got 24,000 lies, and or
mistruths that he misled our country.
Um, I am 100% sure that he instigated
the instruction and had all of
those- I think all those people
should be punished as traitors or
insurrectionists, not given six months
off for misdemeanor beatin' up the cop.
“The straw that broke the camel’s back for me, it was the election of Donald Trump”
Robert
Florida
Transcript for Robert
I am currently registered as a Democrat starting in 2016.
The straw that broke the camel's back for me, it was the election of Donald Trump and, and I, I, from, you know, he got started on the wrong foot, in my opinion.
and it just got worse from there.
I mean in my, in my humble opinion, he's a narcissist.
He doesn't give a forgive me. He doesn't give a shit about people.
He just cares about Donald Trump and, and his following.
That's not the kind of person I want in politics at any level. You know, at the school board level, I don't want that.
“We were the leader of democracy. Second to none. We dictated what was happening and we were well-respected throughout the world. Then it all fell apart with the election of Donald Trump.”
Cliff
Pennsylvania
Transcript for Cliff
We were the leader of democracy.
Second to none.
We dictated what was happening and we were well-respected throughout the world.
Then it all fell apart with the election of Donald Trump - we suddenly lost all of that respect we had internationally.
Virtually no one respected us anymore.
And you know people would tell me that, "Donald Trump has a strong president."
Far from it.
He was the weakest president we ever had.
Bar none.
He would shout and thump his chest and act all tough, but it was an act.
Nobody respected or feared Donald Trump.
And that was it.
I mean, that was the extent of his leadership.
“I have no affiliation now with the Republican party. They are just conspiracy minded kooks.”
Wendy
Pennsylvania
Transcript for Wendy
I left the Republican party after the Helsinki treason summit.
I am an independent.
I have no affiliation now with the Republican party.
They've lost their mind.
They have become insane.
They are just conspiracy minded kooks.
Kevin McCarthy. The man is beyond he's beyond redemption.
He's got no soul and no spine.
Doug Mastriano as a governor would be extremely dangerous to our Commonwealth.
What's what's frightening is the Christian nationalism.
This, again, this is not who we are.
I think it's dangerous.
It's radical.
He just can't, he just can't get in the governor's office.
He, he's a dangerous man.
Oz.
He's from freaking North Jersey.
If you live in the Philadelphia area, you know our relationship with people from Jersey, especially North Jersey.
You're not from around here.
And to quote Mean Girls again, he doesn't even go here.
“A party that claims to be for law and order capitulated in a cowardly way.”
Joseph
Pennsylvania
Transcript for Joseph
And I have been a registered Republican from 1967 until 2020.
Just after the 2020 election, all this stuff about how "I won the election" and "fraud" and so forth.
I knew where this was going.
And I that's when I decided I would no longer a register as a Republican and became an independent.
And because I saw, I almost could see what that something like January 6th is where he would take us.
And he did.
And the Republican response to that has been appalling.
A party that claims to be for law and order capitulated in a cowardly way.
There's only a few of them like Cheney and Romney and Kinzinger who have shown any courage whatsoever to stand up to this guy.
“What I see now is a party that really is forcing this more focused on driving division between Americans..”
Steven
Pennsylvania
Transcript for Steven
And I live in Pennsylvania.
And I am still registered as Republican.
And I've decided that I'm not going to give up on that.
I don't want to become a Democrat.
I don't consider myself to be liberal in that sense.
So I need someplace to go where I can be someone who has conservative values.
And I don't think the Republican party today reflects the majority of my values, but I'm not prepared to give up on being Republican at this stage of cancer.
What I see now is a party that really is forcing this more focused on driving division between Americans than bringing Americans together to solve big problems.
I don't expect every candidate to do exactly everything I want them to do, but I do expect them to show certain core values around humanity and leadership and honesty and integrity.
I think if you can get a leader who shows those things, then you've got something there.
“I’m not ever gonna vote for Donald Trump. I don’t care who else is running. Ever.”
Fran
Texas
Transcript for Fran
And I, I don't like aggressive. I like assertive, but I don't like aggressive.
And then Mike Pence, unfortunately talk about getting thrown under the Trump train. He almost lost his life, but, he showed amazing courage and integrity right in the middle of the.
And so, uh, actually last time when I voted, I voted primarily Republicans.
There's a few Democrats I voted for, but I wrote in, I think I wrote in Ben Carson I'm not ever gonna vote for Donald Trump. I don't care who else is running. Ever.
“Get back to the basic core values of the party.”
Lans
Nevada
Transcript for Lans
I'm a resident of Reno, Nevada, and I am a registered Republican.
The party is not the party that I knew when I started working with college Republicans back in the seventies.
In 2020, I voted for President Biden.
It was a no brainer looking at what Trump has done to this country and the disgrace he has put upon this entire country.
I would ask our Republican leaders to move on from that election and move away from Trump.
Get back to the basic core values of the party.
I would like to continue to be a part of the Republican party.
If we don't get people more principled and qualified, then I don't know what I'll do.
“The final straw for me for leaving the Republican Party was January 6.”
Bill
Nevada
Transcript for Bill
I'm a lifelong Republican, recently reregistered as an Independent, and I live in Reno, Nevada.
The final straw for me for leaving the Republican Party was January 6th.
I heard Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy stand up and both say what a horrible thing it was.
But then when it came to the impeachment, all of a sudden people had turned.
The Republican leadership had turned around and were supporting Trump.
And I could not in good conscience stay in a party that supports Donald Trump.
I think he's a cancer in the Republican party, and he's a cancer on politics in the United States in general.
I mean, I don't know where we would be today if Trump was successful in what he tried to do to overthrow the election.
“It’s just about looking extreme so that you’ll get voted in.”
Lisa
Nevada
Transcript for Lisa
I'm from Northern Nevada.
I've been a Republican most of my life, and I am still a registered Republican, but I consider myself nonpartisan at this point.
If I could tell Republican leaders anything, they need to be brave.
And they need to say what they're really thinking, instead of putting up these media charged statements just to get attention, so that they can look like Trump.
It's not about improving our country.
It's just about looking extreme so that you'll get voted in, and it's just concerning.
We need to find a way for both sides to feel like they are being listened to, that their rights are being honored, and that everyone's being represented in our democracy.
“I believe strongly in two fundamental principles: freedom and accountability. I was raised that way.”
Rauer
California
Transcript for Rauer
I live in the San Francisco
Bay Area in California.
I have tended to vote Republican.
In part because they reflect my
beliefs, but more importantly,
because I'm scared to death of the
opposition when they have power.
I believe strongly up in two fundamental
principles: freedom and accountability.
I was raised that way.
The January 6 insurrection appalled me.
I can say it's unfor-
It was unforgivable at the
time and I feel so, today.
I think the blessing is that we have
everyone on tape that participated
and they should be punished severely.
What I know about the actions
of Trump, he may not have
incited, but he encouraged it.
“We have become deaf to any other outside view. And I don’t see how a political party can function that way.”
Scott
New York
Transcript for Scott
I'm a disillusioned Republican.
I've been a Republican since about 1978.
I haven't always voted Republican.
I vote for the person
and their qualifications.
I did not vote for Donald
Trump in either election.
We've lost our way and we have
become extreme and we have become
deaf to any other outside view.
And I don't see how a political
party can function that way.
I have thought repeatedly about leaving
our party and becoming independent.
I haven't done so yet,
but I'm getting there.
I'm willing to wait a while though and
see if we can turn ourselves around.
“The Republican party that I knew for 50 years – I don’t know where it is anymore.”
Mike
Michigan
Transcript for Mike
Not exactly, but no party is.
And I've really been voting Republican my whole life until the whole Trump escapade and ever since then, everything's gone a little sideways.
The Republican party that I knew for 50 years, I don't know where it is anymore.
It doesn't exist in the current political climate.
“Liz Cheney… I am a fan of her. I’m a fan of Kinzinger.”
Chris
Pennsylvania
Transcript for Chris
I'm from Pittsburgh.
I had been a Republican for most of my adult life.
You know, sort of formally switching parties, maybe about two or three years ago, um, you know, to the democratic party.
I voted pretty regularly, um, you know, rep and then, and then I would, I would typically, you know, just vote, um, you know, straight Republican ticket up until about 2016.
I left the party during the first impeachment
Liz Cheney is conducting herself.
I, I think that it is a display of strong, moral courage and fortitude.
know, I am a fan of her. I'm a fan of Kinzinger.
“That guy doesn’t represent Republicanism at all.”
Ryan
Virginia
Transcript for Ryan
left the Republican party in 2015
because it was going down the tubes
and it's only gotten worse since then.
When I watched candidate Trump
announced his presidency, I was
like, okay, he's going to ensure
Hillary wins, but that's fine.
And then as he started knocking off all
the other Republican candidates and it
became pretty much legitimate, like,
yeah, he's going to be the nominee.
I reregistered as an Independent.
I was like, no, I'm that guy doesn't
represent republicanism at all.
He's not a conservative, and so I
left before he was even elected.
And then he got elected
at, which was a shock.
And then, yeah, and then I voted
for Joe Biden and thank God he won.
“You guys have made a very big mistake showing any kinds of sympathy towards Donald Trump. He’s nothing but a traitor.”
Dave
Ohio
Transcript for Dave
Since January the sixth and the shit show that, Donald Trump has provided for this nation, I'll never vote Republican again.
Until you get some people back with got something between their ears.
You guys have made a very big mistake showing any kinds of sympathy towards Donald Trump.
He's nothing but a traitor.
He's ruining this country.
You need to get rid of him so that you're good people in the party can maybe do something to help this nation again.
“They don’t care about you. They don’t care about our party. And they certainly do not care about America.”
Jeff
California
Transcript for Jeff
I have been a Republican all of my life, so what I'm about to say, I do not take lightly.
I will never, ever vote for any Republican candidate aligned with Donald Trump.
Trump has been perverting our patriotism.
He's been taking our love for country and twisting it with his pathological lying.
The fact is Donald Trump and his lackeys don't care about me.
They don't care about you.
They don't care about our party, and they certainly do not care about America.
And as it has been said, you cannot serve two masters.
I choose American democracy.
And if that means supporting and voting for a candidate of another party.
Then so be it.
“I’m a United States Marine core vet and consider myself, I guess, politically homeless been thrown out of the party. Not because my views have changed, not because I no longer believe in the rule of law are fiscal responsibility or small government, cause I don’t kiss the ring.”
Jim
Maryland
Transcript for Jim
I'm a United States Marine core vet and consider myself, I guess, politically homeless been thrown out of the party.
Not because my views have changed, not because I no longer believe in the rule of law are fiscal responsibility or small government, cause I don't kiss the ring.
That's it plain and simple.
It was worrisome to watch the four years of the Trump presidency.
Saw him break down institutions long, held respected institutions for what, for his ego.
And I watched elected officials cower when it came time to stand up.
The ones that did stand up and said "enough is enough our country's more important than any single party, any single person's ego."
And what do the Republicans do? They throw 'em out
“When I first found out he was thinking about running, I just, I couldn’t believe it. And I think he’s a terrible human being.”
George
Ohio
Transcript for George
live in Lancaster, Ohio.
Former slash current Republican
unhappy with a large part of the
current Republican leadership.
I see the Trump influence has pulled
too many politicians to the right
You know, when I first found out
he was thinking about running,
I just, I couldn't believe it.
And I think he's a terrible human being.
I mean that, you know, he found an issue.
He found a way to drive a
wedge and somehow come out
with people being on his side.
The whole immigration thing,
the demonizing of China.
Our country can't do anything
without compromise and that's,
that's troublesome to me.
“I couldn’t vote for Trump and I was a pastor of Hispanic church, the way he viewed Hispanics and, that, that slogan, you know, who will built the wall, Mexico, et cetera. I think that was very insulting to Mexicans and it didn’t accomplish anything”
Bill
Georgia
Transcript for Bill
I'm very dissatisfied with what happened to the Republican party, uh, in the last decade. And especially with the Trump election, I actually voted for, I held my nose and I voted for Hillary and, uh, it was a very severe, unhappy choice.
I couldn't vote for Trump and, I was a pastor of Hispanic church, the way he viewed Hispanics and, that, that slogan, you know, who will built the wall, Mexico, et cetera. I think that was very insulting to Mexicans and it didn't accomplish anything
We all like to be resentful and we all like to be triumphant and, and that's not good politics.
“I mourn for the Republican Party. It’s dead and it’s not coming back.”
Robert
Iowa
Transcript for Robert
I live now in Des Moines, Iowa.
I'm a former member of the Polk County
Republican Central Committee, former
delegate to Republican state convention.
I'm just homeless politically.
I voted for Biden.
I'm not sorry I voted for Biden.
I'm gonna vote for the Democrats
for Congress and, and the Senate and
the governorship here in this fall.
But I, really am kind of a, I feel
that I'm kind of an orphan right now.
I don't think the Republican
party can be saved.
The percentage of the Republican
electorate that's bought into the
Big Lie and that's bought into to
the nonsense that Trump has been
pedaling right along is so large.
Even people I never in a
million years thought would
fall for that kind of nonsense.
I mourn for the Republican Party.
It's dead and it's not coming back.
“I remember when Republicans used to stand for individual responsibility. For limited government. Now he wants to have a state government that’s gonna control the lives of people to a degree that, that I don’t know how you can justify.”
Dave
Pennsylvania
Transcript for Dave
Doug Mastriano does not represent the Republican party that I joined, that I was a proud member of for many, many years. I remember when Republicans used to stand for individual responsibility. For limited government. Now he wants to have a state government that's gonna control the lives of people to a degree that, that I don't know how you can justify.
It, wants to spend lots of money, to restrict pre choice and yet not, not provide sufficient funds to support the needs of. Of these children that he's forcing women to have.
“They’re selfish, self-centered, and it’s all about their right.”
Cheryl
Arizona
Transcript for Cheryl
So Covid really was a challenge for us in Arizona. Uh, Given the, um, things that the Republican party said and did it really undermined efforts that we were trying to make to protect our students and our community.
The pressure that they put on us as a school, me is a principal, uh, really is demanding. They're selfish. Self-centered and it's all about their right.
“I felt that my vote for Trump in 2016 had contributed to the problems that we were seeing in the pandemic and in the country.”
Nancy
Oklahoma
Transcript for Nancy
In April of that year, I left and I am now registered independent. I will never vote for another Republican again in November of 2020, I voted for the first time for a Democrat in the presidential election. I voted for Joe Biden because I in, I felt that my vote for Trump in 2016 had contributed to the problems that we were seeing in the pandemic and in the country.
I felt that I needed to make amends by speaking out. every time I had the opportunity speaking out publicly, about the dangers that would come with another Trump presidency,
“Anything that I can do to not have Trump or his sycophants in power is the best thing that I can do for this country.”
Tom
Ohio
Transcript for Tom
I was a lifelong Republican up until the 2016 election.
I'm now an independent voter because I can't identify with the Republican party at this point.
Anyone that associates themselves with Trump is someone that I would never want in a public office.
And that's unfortunate because I'm used to McCain.
I'm used to Kasich.
I'm used to Reagan, the Bushes.
Those were politicians that I believed not only had my interest at heart, but they also had the interest of not Republicans but the country as a whole.
Anything that I can do to not have Trump or his sycophants in power is the best thing that I can do for this country.
“I think that what Trump did in the fall of 2020 and January 6th, those two things are unforgivable.”
Scott
Ohio
Transcript for Scott
Fiscal Conservative, socially, fairly liberal.
What I would call a rational Republican.
I don't get the impression that Trump is doing anything positive for the party.
Trump is out for Trump, you know?
There's a part of me that says, "Donald Trump's gonna probably self-destruct at some point here."
I think that what Trump did in the fall of 2020 and January 6th, those two things are unforgivable.
Candidly, I'm all in favor of what the Republicans on the January 6th committee are doing.
They've taken a lot of heat for it.
But the reality is, I think they're dead on as to where there's smoke, there's fire.
And I think that there's plenty of fire there.
And I think that, frankly, he should be forbidden from running for office again.
“This evil phenomenon, I hope is temporary.”
David
Colorado
Transcript for David
I registered as an independent in 2017.
I'm Republican throughout all
my life because Republicans have
those values, Conservative values.
I think leaving the party temporarily
to avoid this beast, I would say, this
evil phenomenon I hope is temporary.
We had in Joe Biden, a moderate
who could level the ground.
I voted for him in the general elections.
I believe abortion is bad.
Mainly my Catholic values.
I don't support that.
On the other hand, I don't believe
it should be against the law.
I'm not the one that's going to judge
that person getting an abortion.
“I saw that the Republican Party had shifted pretty far right in the 21st century. And then obviously it hit a new low with Trump.”
Pete
Ohio
Transcript for Pete
I come from a very long line of very proud Republican family members.
Everybody in my family is still Republican.
Unfortunately, I saw that the Republican Party had shifted pretty far right in the 21st century.
And then obviously it's hit a new low with Trump.
And what he's done to the party is pretty much hijack the Republican party for his own ends.
He's not really a Republican or a Democrat or an Independent.
He's just a sociopath.
That pretty much just sums up the Republican party in a nutshell.
They're just hypocrites and traitors.
So none of them will get my support until this whole Trump, fascism, whatever you want to call it, authoritarianism, is gone by the wayside.
We need to eliminate it from our politics.
And if we don't set the course straight now, we're in a heap of trouble in this country.
“The GOP started turning too far right as far as I’m concerned, as soon as Donald Trump started running.”
Jean
Georgia
Transcript for Jean
he has fomented so much anger, so much violence, so much discontent.
He has not shown leadership.
He has shown himself to be very self-indulgent.
He's not in favor of our country. He's in favor of Donald Trump.
He has gotten a group together and has gotten him very excited.
And they're very impressed by the fact that the president of the United States or now former president gave them a stage.
I think Donald Trump himself was the beginning of my warning.
Deciding I'm an independent, I cannot, I cannot continue to support the Republican party in its current state.
And I don't.
“If the pandemic proved anything, it’s not always great to have a bunch of rookies and outsiders in it.”
Mike
Ohio
Transcript for Mike
I live in Southwestern, Ohio, and I am a former Republican.
My track record has votes for many Republicans, such as John McCain, Jon Huntsman, John Kasich in the 2016 primary.
When Republicans start bringing back candidates that actually want to solve some stuff, instead of just being anti-this or anti-that, maybe I'll be persuadable to casting Republican votes in the future.
As we've seen in the past six years and the way Trump's been doing endorsements, it's a lot of celebrity.
"It" factor seems to be going into a lot of this.
If the pandemic proved anything, it's not always great to have a bunch of rookies and outsiders in it.
You need some people that have actually gone through some held government positions before and actually know what to do and actually governing, instead of electing celebrities that don't have any idea of what the constitution is or what certain laws are or are just out there to promote their name.
“I’ve often said patriotism, you know, requires so much more than wearing a cheap red cap.”
Baoky
Georgia
Transcript for Baoky
And it's a Republican party that is now a cult to personality. It's a cult that is anti-business anti-science uh, and anti-intellectual, and, it no longer stands for truth. Republicans have made a very successful case that somehow through these various race, It's a struggle between capitalism and socialism.
It's we're not that far apart. Okay. So it has nothing can be further from the truth. This is about the struggle between democracy and authoritarianism, right? No one wins when authoritarianism takes over, we all lose.
I've often said patriotism, you know, requires so much more than wearing a cheap red cap.
“The Republican party has become similar to the dictators it used to oppose looking, becoming very anti democratic. The Republican party, for instance now is less interested in controlling spending, but ensuring that spending benefited the privileged few.”
Carl
Michigan
Transcript for Carl
The Republican party has become similar to the dictators it used to oppose looking, becoming very anti democratic. The Republican party, for instance now is less interested in controlling spending it, but ensuring that spending benefited the privileged few,
January 6th really just reinforced my opposition of the Republican party.
The election of Donald Trump, really was the last straw for me. The fact that a grifter essentially was elected president who proved everybody right in his tendencies in office reinforced my opposition of the Republican party.
“We actually helped you lose, and we will continue to do it until you cut this cancer out of the corrupted GOP.”
Eileen
Nevada
Transcript for Eileen
If the Republican party wants to be honorable again, they may get my vote again.
But I am unable to vote for the people that don't believe in our election system, who deny that there was a horrible happening on January 6th, who say it was, "just a little riot."
We need to get sanity back in America again.
The only way to do that is to deliver a resounding loss in 2022 for the Republican Party.
Honorable Republicans refused to put Trump back in office.
We actually helped you lose, and we will continue to do it until you cut this cancer out of the corrupted GOP.
You appear to want power more than you want democracy.
And that will not hold with independents, honorable Republicans or Democrats.
We will take you down.
“You just watch the capitulation of every single Republican of people who I believed had true stature and, integrity, and they capitulated to Trump. And so at that point it’s like, this is not salvageable.”
Deborah
Arizona
Transcript for Deborah
I live in Glendale, Arizona, which is in the Northwest suburb of Phoenix.
The extremism of the GOP under Trump and his acolytes, has penetrated, basically every aspect of civic life, and it is, so damaging.
I mean, you just watch the capitulation of every single Republican of
people who I believed had true stature and, integrity, and they capitulated to Trump.
And so at that point it's like, yeah, no, this is not, this is not salvageable.
And here in Arizona, it's horrible.
So all of those things come together and yeah, I'm, I'm not a Republican anymore.
“[Liz Cheney] spoke out in our defense when she certainly didn’t have to and it didn’t serve her purposes.”
Tim
Wyoming
Transcript for Tim
I live in Casper, Wyoming.
And I still am a Republican.
I had served in the Wyoming House
of Representatives for about 10
years and I ran against Liz Cheney.
During the 2016 campaign, we
were in a little town in western
Wyoming at a candidate forum.
And all the candidates were there.
There was a woman that stood up in the
audience and sort of ripped into to most
of us, we, especially those of us who
had served in the state legislature,
is, you know, really our, our integrity
and really why we were doing it.
And Liz, everybody sees sort
of her iron backbone now.
She said, you know, I'm really proud to
be standing on the stage with these folks.
And she spoke out, in, in our defense
when she certainly didn't have to
and it didn't serve her purposes.
Maybe a foreshadow of what the rest
of the country has had the opportunity
to see now, since January 6th.
“And I’m not gonna let a bunch of RINOs drive me out of the party, people who, as far as I can tell, share no values consistent with the history of our party.”
Carl
New York
Transcript for Carl
I've been a Republican for 50 plus years.
And I'm not gonna let a bunch of rinos
drive me out of the party, people who, as far as I can tell, share no values consistent with the history of our party.
The ultimate demonstration of where they stand, came to us on January 6th, when 147 members of the house and Senate- rino members, I wouldn't wanna say they're Republicans, voted essentially to overturn the presidential election.
they in doing this, they violated their oath to support and defend the constitution
“God, country, party – party’s last.”
Susan
Wyoming
Transcript for Susan
I live in Casper, Wyoming.
I'm a lifelong Republican.
Now I identify myself as
a conservative at sea.
I would never not be a conservative,
pardon my double negative.
I really reject and resist kind
of any efforts to change parties
or to move to a different island.
Liz - she's been exceptional.
Um, I think that she has
been exceptionally brave.
I think she models that idea of God,
country, party - party's last, this
in my view is clearly so much bigger
than party and that's important.
I have to tell you, it's certainly made
me, you know, kind of straighten up a
little bit more and think a little bit
deeper about being the voice for change.
“There’s a village, and they’re holding the pitch forks, and they’re holding the torches.”
Jim
Ohio
Transcript for Jim
I'm from Cincinnati, Ohio.
I kind of identify myself as a disaffected Republican.
As far as I know, the Republican Party doesn't have a platform yet.
I think Mitch McConnell said, "Hey, vote us in and we'll tell you."
No, no.
Buy this car and I'll tell you what the MPG is on it.
Buy this house and I'll tell you how many square feet.
No, no.
These people have just sold their soul for the path to victory.
There's a village, and they're holding the pitch forks, and they're holding the torches.
We had a chance in 2016 to do things differently, right?
We elected this guy, who's an outsider.
He's not a politician.
And what happened?
Well, it's worse now.
So to me, huge opportunity, and a huge disappointment.
Or to use his terms, "HUGE disappointment."
“I believe strongly in what was once the Republican party and am thoroughly disgusted by what is currently described as, or referred to as the Republican party.”
Franklin
Florida
Transcript for Franklin
My name is Franklin.
I am a registered life term long registered Republican, uh, currently living in Florida.
I believe strongly in what was once the Republican party and am thoroughly disgusted by what is currently described as, or referred to as the Republican party.
It's not my Republican party.
That's for sure.
Um, and I, I can't stand the cowardice among those people that are essentially held out as the representatives of the Republican party.
You, people don't, you don't represent me. And you're, you don't represent the Republican party.
“I just think Donald Trump has destroyed the Republican party and I can no longer support it.”
James
Michigan
Transcript for James
I am become very disappointed with the Republican party
and no longer can support the Republican party as long as its the party of Trump.
I just think Donald Trump has destroyed the Republican party and I can no longer support it.
Thank you.
“You know, the truth goes a long way, and just repeating a lie over and over does not make it the truth.”
James
Ohio
Transcript for James
I'm a registered Republican voter.
I would not vote for any candidate that actively flipped and sought to get Trump's endorsement and supports his continued undermining of our institutions in this country.
You know, the truth goes a long way, and just repeating a lie over and over does not make it the truth.
I think the thing I'm hoping is that people wake up and see the truth and that more Republican leadership stands up and says, "You know, we need to move on past this 2020 election.
The election was fair.
He lost.
It's time to move on."
I'm hoping that all those Republicans that fired Trump the first time come back and fire him again.
“I’m afraid he’s gonna run again. That would be horrible for the Republican party.”
Diego
Georgia
Transcript for Diego
I tend to vote Republican and I don't vote Democrat, I'm for the country before I am for the Republican party
I'm not a hardcore Republican.
I tended to vote that way.
I did not, I did not support Donald Trump at all.
I thought he was for me personally.
He was atrocious.
I thought he was rude. Condescending. I thought he was very bad for the Republican party because Republican party supposedly attracts a lot of people of faith.
Well, as a person of faith, I taught my kids to have respect to be civil.
And here's this guy that everybody's just jumping on a bandwagon who's so disrespectful to, to people in his own party.
And if you're not loyal to him, he just kills you.
I'm afraid he's gonna run again. That would be horrible for the Republican party.
“The Republican Party has just swung so far away from those mainstream values.”
Ed
Ohio
Transcript for Ed
I'm from Bowling Green, Ohio.
I've been a Republican since 1972.
I was a Nixon kid.
I still have the pin that I wore on my shirts back then that said, "Nixon Now."
The Republican party has come a long way and not necessarily in a good way.
Back then, the Republican Party was conservative, yet it was conservative with heart.
But the problem I see now is the Republican Party has just swung so far away from those mainstream values that it doesn't represent me and the people of our state the way it used to.
And one of the things I used to always have pride in was be being able to tell people overseas when they said, "Well so and so won the election. How can you stand that the person you didn't like won the election?"
I said, "Well, because we're Americans and we can agree to disagree."
But that's no longer the case.
It's my way or the highway, and I think that's wrong.
“The party is not about one person. It’s about ideals and working together.”
Earl
Ohio
Transcript for Earl
I was a member of the Ashtabula Republican
Central Committee and Executive Committee.
And did not appreciate the way that the
county Republican Party was playing games.
Our local executive committee and central
committee decided that they were going
to vote to censure Anthony Gonzalez from
Lorain because he voted for impeachment
and I sort of lost my cool on that one.
The party is not about one person.
It's about ideals and working together.
And unfortunately the Republican
party has fallen very far away
from that, especially in my county.
“It made me more afraid for the future of the country rather than my own future as my own life was concerned.”
Addy
Nevada
Transcript for Addy
I go by Addy.
I am a former Republican who was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada.
I very reluctantly, and now regretably, voted for Trump in 2016.
Once I became more familiar with the changes that were happening in the party, this also happened to coincide with my being very ill with lymphoma.
I think it was around Charlottesville.
I was admitted in Houston, Texas.
And the scary things I was seeing on TV channels and waiting rooms in the hospital.
I reflected that, wow, I'm more scared about this than about the potential that I might not survive the rest of this year.
And that really hit me hard about how strongly I felt about it.
“I have no idea what’s going on. All I know is I don’t like it.”
Joan
Ohio
Transcript for Joan
I was a Republican for 50 years but have not found myself able to support the GOP since 2016, really.
I'm just very disappointed in the GOP that nobody seems to be standing up and taking an ethical stance.
And the few who do, they're written out of the party on a rail.
This is just not the party that I've known.
My husband and I were talking the other night about, "how can one party have done such a flip in like 10 years?"
I have no idea what's going on.
All I know is I don't like it.
“And when Trump was running for office, I left that party. I am now a Democrat and I would never vote again for Republican unless they change an awful lot. “
Melissa
Ohio
Transcript for Melissa
I live in Kettering, Ohio.
I was a Republican for many, many years.
And when Trump was running for office, I left that party.
I am now a Democrat and I would never vote again for Republican unless they change an awful lot.
Trump is narcissistic and abusive and I want nothing to do with a party that supports him.
Thank you.
“The prosecution or persecution, I guess, would be the word of Liz Cheney and, uh, and Mr. Kinzinger. Is just an embarrassment to the Republican party and not something I choose to be a part of any longer.”
Steve
Michigan
Transcript for Steve
I'm from grand rapids, Michigan.
The Republican party was not something I wanted to leave.
It left me in 2016 with the nomination of Donald Trump.
For president, we brought in somebody who was lying, who has lied all his life, who knows he's lying.
And he's made a career out of it as we go through the hearings that are happening these days.
He continues to lie with whatever media he can get his hands on.
The Republican party and those who have supported him are embarrassing themselves.
The prosecution or persecution, I guess, would be the word of Liz Cheney and, uh, and Mr. Kinzinger.
Is just an embarrassment to the Republican party and not something I choose to be a part of any longer.
“This populism […] You don’t govern, you just make speeches and get angry.”
Jesse
Ohio
Transcript for Jesse
I'm from Cleveland, Ohio,
I really probably consider myself a John
Kasich Republican, which is, I don't know
if that's a Republican anymore, I guess.
You know, so in 2016, I
voted for him in the primary.
You're actually governing
and not grandstanding.
But instead he sort of moved
more to the middle and it was
sort of a refreshing change.
This populism is, has obviously
become, you know, the new thing.
You don't govern, you just
make speeches and get angry.
It's fascinating.
“It’s all about them. It is not about us, and I can’t be a part of that.”
Hyla
Nevada
Transcript for Hyla
I live in Las Vegas, Nevada.
I was a Republican for 50 plus years.
Up until 2020.
The final straw for me in leaving the Republican party was the denial of that presidential election.
I don't know how anyone in this country who has a mind and a brain, that thinks for themselves, can believe that this election was stolen.
The thing that scares me the most about today's GOP is they seem to have lost a sense of what a democracy truly is.
They don't seem to care anymore about the individual voter.
They don't seem to be able to stand up and do the right thing.
They appear to be more focused on an individual or a group of individuals.
I've heard the Republican party referred to these days as a cult of a personality."
And I believe that to my core.
It's all about them.
It is not about us, and I can't be a part of that.
“I certainly think that the loudest voices in the Republican party are too extreme.”
Doug
Ohio
Transcript for Doug
I live just north of Dayton, Ohio.
I retired from the army in 1983.
I then became interested in politics, chose to become affiliated with the Republican party.
I certainly think that the loudest voices in the Republican party are too extreme.
I've been watching the hearings of the January 6th select committee very closely.
Liz Cheney certainly has put herself in great political jeopardy
and there is a heroism about that.
Her willing to stand up for country and for the constitution, putting the priority there over loyalty to party and the many other Republicans that have proved their cowardice by continuing to buy into Trump's big lie.
“A vote for Republican these days seems like a vote to destroy democracy.”
Mark
Georgia
Transcript for Mark
I live in Georgia's 14th district. I used to vote Republican,
but now I consider myself an independent.
And a vote for Republican
these days seems like a vote
to destroy democracy.
Thank you.
God Bless.
“People that have laid their lives down for the ideals of self-determination and freedom and equality for all and democracy here in America and globally… What Trump and the Republican party has become is just the antithesis to that.”
Scott
North Carolina
Transcript for Scott
I fully believe that today's Republican party has completely abandoned. It's a duty to democracy. Just look at January 6th, if, if an insurrections what's needed to happen to.
Get the Republican party agenda, across the American people, then that's, what's gonna happen. It is just nothing more than just a spit in the face to anyone who served this country and sworn an oath to the constitution. Anyone who's fought and died, Normandy, Saigon, and Fallujah and Kandahar. People that have laid their lives down for the
ideals of self-determination and freedom and equality for all and democracy here in America and globally what Trump and the Republican party has become is just the antithesis to that.
“The centrists and the independents —
We’re sitting back going, what the f*** is going on?”
Tony
Arizona
Transcript for Tony
And I was, I have been a Republican since my 18th birthday when I rode my bike down to the post office and registered.
And I left the party finally about a year, year and a half ago.
I didn't go to the democratic party because there's certain things that I don't believe in over there either.
The Republican party that used to be the Reagans and, and Bush and, and going all the way back, it doesn't exist anymore.
The platform doesn't exist.
It's been taken over.
Most of us, I think if you look at it from a perspective of those in everybody in the middle.
The centrists and the independents and we don't, and we're like,
We're sitting back going, what the fuck is going on?
I'm not super political.
I'm really not.
But to see the injustice that's going on and, and democracy.
I'm a big fan of democracy cause I believe in it.
And what's happening is that it's being, it's being attacked.
A hundred percent.
“He is the embodiment of what the founding fathers feared of a demagogue, getting into office and becoming an autocrat.”
Bob
Ohio
Transcript for Bob
I have been a lifelong Republican,
I pretty much always despised Donald Trump, even before politics as a phony and a charlatan and, and so forth.
Both 2016 and 20, 20.
2016, I could not bring myself to vote for Trump. I saw him for what he was:
a phony, a dangerous man,
under no circumstances, would I vote for Donald Trump.
Which again, is the worst, most dangerous president we have had in our entire history.
He is the embodiment of what the founding fathers feared of a demagogue, getting into office, and becoming an autocrat.
They are total political cowards.
Charge 'em with treason as far as I'm concerned.
“I don’t actually believe there is a Republican party at this point. I think we have a Trump party and like many other Republicans. I consider myself politically homeless.”
Brenda
Georgia
Transcript for Brenda
I think we have a Trump party and like many other Republicans. I consider myself politically homeless.
There is nothing that I see in today's Republican party that even remotely resembles, the values, the ideals, everything that I believed in that led me to join the Republican. All of all of that's gone, you know, where is the honor? Where is the integrity?
What Trump did is he took the hate. He took the ugly he took the bigotry and the racism and he laid it out on the resolute desk and he stamped the presidential seal all over it.
“The extremism brought on by Trump has damaged the party. I am hoping it’s not irreparably, but, it has damaged the party to the point where it’s driven a lot of people away.”
Donna
Georgia
Transcript for Donna
The extremism brought on by Trump has damaged the party. I am hoping it's not irreparably, but, it has damaged the party to the point where it's driven a lot of people away.
I know other people in the same situation, a across the generations who have said. I can't identify as this anymore, or I, I don't know how you could identify as this, and so I think the damage has been extensive, not only for the party, but for the United States on a world stage. I think that people breathed the sigh of relief around the world when he was not reelected.
“I never voted for Donald Trump, not even in 2016. Unfortunately I don’t think Donald is, is, has a grip on reality. And unfortunately he’s just had a, a, commanding effect over the party.”
Wood
Georgia
Transcript for Wood
I never voted for Donald Trump, not even in 2016.
Unfortunately I don't think Donald is, is, has a grip on reality.
And unfortunately he's just had a, a, commanding effect over the party.
But there are still individuals in the Republican party that I would support.
And, unfortunately there's just so much baggage right now that they have to deal with that they can't devote their a hundred percent of their efforts to being good leaders.
Liz Cheney, you ought tell her to run for president in 2024. She's my kind of leader.
She believes supporting the constitution and. And I'm, I I'm I'm with her a hundred percent, I believe in the same thing.
“I was a Republican for 30 some years. I wish I could be again.”
Jon
Arizona
Transcript for Jon
With Trump, from that point on the, Republican party seemed to, be so far over to the right.
He seems to have dragged an unusual number of, of fellow travelers along with him. And I, and I don't really understand why they, why they feel obliged to follow him on his coatails.
They're just slam, you know, if you're a, if you're a Democrat, you ain't getting nothing.
I think they're almost all extremists.
I was a Republican for 30 some years. I wish I could be again.
“I became disaffected with the party through the Trump presidency.”
Marie
Florida
Transcript for Marie
I am 63 years old.
I live in Summerland Key, Florida,
which is in the lower Florida Keys.
I am- was a Republican voter and
I am no longer a Republican voter.
I voted for Trump in 16,
I actually liked what I heard
because he was talking about doing
something, bringing jobs back to this
country, making America great again.
I became disaffected with the party,
you know, through the Trump presidency.
My husband would bring the New
York Times home and he would
slap it down on the counter and
say, science, science he's cut.
He would- small little article about
science and cutting genetic testing or
cutting, banning scientists or this.
And the other thing that it was
was the Paris Climate Agreement.
When he pulled out of that, I
felt a stab wound to my heart.
I really did.
“I think that Donald Trump’s MAGA movement making America great again, has done the opposite. It’s made America grow apart.”
Dennis
Ohio
Transcript for Dennis
I was Republican all my life until 2016 when Donald Trump came along.
By 2020 after five years of his insults harassment, belittlement bullying.
I voted for Joe Biden in 2020 just to rid ourselves of Trump.
I think that Donald Trump's MAGA movement making America great again, has done the opposite.
It's made America grow apart.
It's destroyed or is, is destroying the most, uh, critical part of our nation.
The number of destructive people within the party, Jim Jordan here in Ohio, Matt Gaetz Marjorie Taylor Greene, Ron Johnson, Louie Gohmert, Mo Brooks on and on and on.
And I, I just can't believe in the party anymore
“The current Republican Party has become anti-democracy. They are willing to spread lies and hurt people and terrorize people just to falsely claim that they won an election and I will no longer be a part of it.”
Rebekah
Texas
Transcript for Rebekah
outside of Houston, Texas.
I was a Republican for 30 years,
but I have left the party.
I've been watching the
January 6 hearings.
And one thing that personally struck
home with me was the testimony of
Shaye Moss and her mother, Ruby
Freeman, the election workers who were
accused by Rudy Giuliani and Donald
Trump of having suitcases full of
fake ballots and these poor women who
were just trying to work the election
had their lives turned upside down
because of these false accusations.
As someone who has worked
the elections, I know.
What a hard job.
The current Republican Party
has become anti-democracy.
They are willing to spread lies and
hurt people and terrorize people just to
falsely claim that they won an election
and I will no longer be a part of it.
“January 6th is much worse than Watergate because you have so many more participants.”
Greg
Ohio
Transcript for Greg
I'm from Chillicothe, Ohio.
I've been a registered Republican since 1980.
What happened on January 6th was instigated by Donald Trump.
There's no question that he summoned the mob, you know, he wound him up and he pointed him to the Capitol.
Had he not done that, that would not have happened.
So he is absolutely responsible for what happened.
January 6th is much worse than Watergate because you have so many more participants.
And you've got so many, you know, so many ordinary Americans who have bought into this thing.
And, you know, when you say something over and over again, and you have a big enough audience, you know, that message falls on some receptive ears and that's what's happened here.
Watergate was just a crime against the Democrats, but this is a crime against every citizen in the United States.
“I don’t think it’s a party thing. It’s just Trump himself.”
Wood
Georgia
Transcript for Wood
I mean, his personality is so, so large. He's a very difficult person to control and, uh, I think he has too much control of the party right now.
And, uh, and, but at the same time, you know, Liz Cheney may do some damage to her own career by her stand against Trump, but, and a lot of other people could have done the same thing, but they didn't.
And so, uh, you know, some of the senators and representatives that still support Trump and, uh, Give allegiance their own personal allegiance to Trump. I don't think that's good either. They're not understanding that the constitution is the ideal thing, not a single person.
I don't have any respect for them anymore either.
“I supported most of [Trump’s] policies and thought he had quite a few good ideas, but my God, his personality was so non-presidential and so unprofessional that you couldn’t hardly stand to listen to him talk anymore.”
John
Ohio
Transcript for John
I've been a Republican for over 30 years
and recently I've really been concerned
at the direction which the Republican
Party is headed and I wanna see change.
I'd like to see the
Republican party of 1984.
You had an outsider, Ronald Reagan coming
in, you know, former actor now granted he
was Governor of California, of course, but
you know, generally speaking, he just had
a message and he had a positive message
and he was a leader and he had charisma.
I think we've really been
missing that for a long time now.
I mean, Barack Obama for all of
his faults was a pretty good leader
and a pretty charismatic guy.
Unfortunately I disagreed with
almost all of his policies.
And Trump of course is just the opposite.
I supported most of his policies
and thought he had quite a few good
ideas, but my God, his personality
was so non-presidential and so
unprofessional that you couldn't hardly
stand to listen to him talk anymore.
“There’s others, like guys like DeSantis coming along, they’re kind of mini-Trumps.”
Kevin
New York
Transcript for Kevin
I've been a Republican for over 30 years
and recently I've really been concerned
at the direction which the Republican
Party is headed and I wanna see change.
I'd like to see the
Republican party of 1984.
You had an outsider, Ronald Reagan coming
in, you know, former actor now granted he
was Governor of California, of course, but
you know, generally speaking, he just had
a message and he had a positive message
and he was a leader and he had charisma.
I think we've really been
missing that for a long time now.
I mean, Barack Obama for all of
his faults was a pretty good leader
and a pretty charismatic guy.
Unfortunately I disagreed with
almost all of his policies.
And Trump of course is just the opposite.
I supported most of his policies
and thought he had quite a few good
ideas, but my God, his personality
was so non-presidential and so
unprofessional that you couldn't hardly
stand to listen to him talk anymore.
“You’ve got the party, the Republicans, attacking each other, more on the violent right attacking people like Romney, I think he is a fine human being.”
Bob
North Carolina
Transcript for Bob
I live in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
I am a on the sidelines Republican.
My whole life, I was
Republican, I'm in my seventies.
I believe that our political process
has lost its way, I want the Republican
party after the fiasco of Trump,
and what happened on January 6th,
culminating his four years in office,
I wanna see the Republican Party stand
up again, stop attacking themselves
and come back and do some legislation
for the people and the constituents
that they supposedly work for.
When they do that, I will
support that party again.
I'm on the sidelines because there is no
leadership and you've got the party, the
Republicans attacking each other more on
the violent right attacking people like
Romney, I think he is a fine human being.
“Donald Trump did nothing for you. He is not your savior.”
Scarlet
Ohio
Transcript for Scarlet
When I think about the January 6th committee, I think that the bipartisan work so far is exceptional.
I think it's extremely brave, heroic, patriotic.
And, I think that they're doing a really good job in drawing this out, making it so painful that, you know, this never happens again.
I'm going to take this moment to address people who still believe that the election was stolen. Donald Trump did nothing for you.
He is not your savior.
He wanted to be reelected so that he could take over and fracture our democracy.
He does not care about you.
He just wants you to get him reelected so that he can do unethical things.
“And all they’ve done is put forth absolutely zero policy, other than taking us back. I don’t want the Handmaid’s Tale.”
Ed
Nevada
Transcript for Ed
I'm registered in the state of Nevada.
Registered Republican since 1986.
I'm ashamed to say I never voted until 2020, which I'm proud to say that I voted to vote out Trump.
The threat to humanity is not going to be solved with politics.
What's the party working towards that?
Well, it sure as hell isn't the GOP.
And all they've done is put forth absolutely zero policy, other than taking us back.
I don't want the Handmaid's Tale.
Working towards the greater good for humanity, that's the party that we need to be.
That's the way you win elections.
Not with gerrymandering.
Not with the electoral college.
Not with lies.
And certainly not with a frigging traitor, who was so stupid and inept that he couldn't even keep a casino open.
I mean, this is a genius?
He's a criminal and a thief.
This has to end.
“I think the people in the Republican party who deny losing the election are a serious threat.”
Jamie
Georgia
Transcript for Jamie
I've voted first time Republican was in 1984 for Ronald Reagan.
I'm glad Congress has done a good job.
At first, I was very suspicious of the hearings, you know, because there is no cross examination, but they've done a great job communicating what all of the things that really happened to the rest of the country that I got to see a lot firsthand.
Donald Trump, as president of the United States still, he was responsible.
He fueled that fire from the beginning, right.
Even before the election, when he said he would contest the election, if he lost.
I think the people in the Republican party who deny losing the election are a serious threat.
If the people that are behind Trump and following him today, yeah, I cannot vote for them.
And the country's at great risk if they continue to keep a position of power.
“[Kevin McCarthy] doesn’t hold the moral values. He has no integrity.”
Toni
Michigan
Transcript for Toni
I live in Michigan now.
I've been a lifelong Republican.
I never thought that it would come a
time when the people would, try to
overturn an election for one thing.
And the fact that they wanted
to use violence to do it.
I believe Kevin, Kevin McCarthy should not
be in charge of the Republican Congress.
I'm sorry.
I don't think that he's, he
doesn't hold the moral values.
He has no integrity.
He can't seem to, he can,
his first impulses are right.
You know, like when the
insurrection happened.
His first impulse was to say,
this is not right and condemn it.
But the fact that he turned and
reversed his whole opinion within a
couple days shows that he can be this-
he can be changed.
“10 years ago, if you had told me that I was planning on voting Democrat straight ticket […] I would’ve said you’re crazy.”
Brett
Florida
Transcript for Brett
live on the Gulf coast of Florida.
I'm a former Republican,
I don't regret my vote
for Biden at all, because.
Even though I've been disappointed
in Joe Biden and I'm disappointed in
the direction the country has taken.
I think if Trump had become re-elected,
it would've been a disaster.
The Republican Party's response
to January 6th has been somewhere
between abysmal and non-existent.
They try to downplay it like,
"oh, it was no big deal."
Their responses range from, "oh, it
was just a tourist visit" to "well,
there are a few bad actors that ruined
a peaceful protest" to "Hey, it was
just legitimate political discourse."
Honestly, 10 years ago, if you had told
me that I was planning on voting Democrat
straight ticket Democrat from the top to
the bottom for this year, I'm probably at
least a few years to come 10 years ago.
I would've said you're crazy.
And now I'm like, uh, it's the
only way we can save democracy.
“I don’t like where instead of looking at the problem and realizing that we’re all in this together, we cause divisions that are unnecessary.”
Rev
Michigan
Transcript for Rev
And generally that tends to be favored by the Republican.
The Republican party unfortunately has changed we have gone back to that shame and blame politics that I don't like where instead of looking at the problem and realizing that we're all in this together, we cause divisions that are unnecessary.
As far as a single event? Certainly January 6th was a pivotal moment,
When I saw the riot at the January 6th insurrection, I saw the magnitude of the damage that Donald Trump had done. It really hit me.
Transparency and accountability, that's gone. It doesn't exist nor is it being advertised as a way to come back and represent ourselves again.
Instead we've got claims of a fake election.
“The Republican party as constituted and implemented today has betrayed the foundations of what a Republic is. Is no longer rule of law. It is a desperate grasp to retain power”
Dave
Michigan
Transcript for Dave
The Republican party as constituted and implemented today
has betrayed the foundations of what a Republic is. Is no longer rule of law. It is a desperate grasp to retain power
What the Republican party has done is surrender its principles and has become essentially a party of sycophants.
So I left the Republican party.
I have not left republicanism.
“The cult of Donald Trump makes all of this quite disgusting, and I think anyone with the moral compass who is not concerned only about themselves, could not help but come to that same conclusion.”
Blaine
Michigan
Transcript for Blaine
The cult of Donald Trump makes all of this quite disgusting, and I think anyone with the moral compass who is not concerned only about themselves, could not help but come to that same conclusion.
When people started to coalesce around Donald Trump, I couldn't believe it.
Lindsay Graham is no dummy. Ted Cruz is no dummy. I can't believe that those guys have such
limited convictions that somebody like Trump can totally diss on their wife and the next thing they're kissing his butt. I mean, it's just, it's disgusting. And the degree to which these guys are willing to sacrifice everything, to hold onto power and that people don't see that and don't say, you know, this is just not acceptable.
“I have to say I was extremely scared on that day when everything was going down at the Capitol, that something bad was gonna happen, and we would end up in a civil war because Donald Trump declared himself the forever president.”
Julie
Arizona
Transcript for Julie
My name is Julie.
I live in Prescott, Arizona.
I was a Republican for almost 40 years until they decided to throw away their principles and their values and ethics so that they could support Donald Trump, who I believe is a liar and a thief and a Grif.
He tried to steal the election in 2020 by sending in his supporters into the capital to stop the counting of the electoral votes.
I have to say I was extremely scared on that day when, when everything was going down at the Capitol that something bad was gonna happen.
And we would end up in a civil war because Donald Trump declared himself the forever president.
And it's just in a democracy, you don't need that. You can, all you have to do is look around the world to see what will happen.
If we allow one man to dictate.
“It’s just the conspiracy theories that I just didn’t wanna be associated with”
John
Arizona
Transcript for John
Arizona, and I'm an Independent now, was
a Republican, a long time Republican.
But, I guess there was a lot of people who
expressed is kind of felt the party left
them and it's just a different party now.
And I just, I really didn't, I'm kind
of regretful that I had to leave.
In the last several years, it seems
like the fringe and more the conspiracy
people and so forth, the fringe element
have kind of taken over the party.
And I don't know why, I guess some
of it's populism and dissatisfaction
the way the country's going.
It's just the conspiracy theories
that I just didn't wanna be associated
with, the way the Republican Party
was, you know, I felt that it was
just time to become an independent.
My little protest.
“I left the GOP because I felt like it became a party of hate. The extremism brought on by Trump has divided our country.”
Diana
Michigan
Transcript for Diana
I'm a recovering Republican.
I left the GOP because I felt like it became a party of hate.
The extremism brought on by Trump has divided our country.
It's divided families.
It's divided my own family.
I am an outcast because I see what Trump is doing, and it frightens me.
The Michigan GOP has jumped on the Trump train.
It's normalized this hate that we're seeing throughout the country with this extremism.
I would tell Michigan Republican voters to look at the substance of these candidates, to use your heart and your mind when in choosing a candidate, and think about what they stand for and what their presence in the party is doing to this country.
“On January 6th, I felt embarrassed not only to be a Republican, but to be an American.”
Jason
Michigan
Transcript for Jason
On January 6th, I felt embarrassed not only to be a Republican, but to be an American.
And since then the way that the Republicans defended and excused and sanitized what happened that day is just shameful.
To defend Donald Trump's lies before January 6th, in my opinion was in inexcusable, but after January 6th to continue defending that I think is unforgivable.
“It feels as though [the Republican Party] is being led down a […] damn near dictatorship.”
Cedar
Michigan
Transcript for Cedar
I live in the Detroit area in
Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan.
I am currently still registered as a
Republican, but I am beyond disgruntled
about the way that Republican Party
looks and appears in the mainstream.
The Republican Party today under
Trump feels very totalitarian.
It feels very authoritarian.
It feels very angry.
It feels very divisive, it feels very
lost and it feels as though it is being
led down a almost damn near dictatorship.
From a tactical standpoint feels that way.
it certainly feels like it's lost its way.
“When you say the election is rigged. That is an extraordinary claim and it requires extraordinary evidence because the damaging nature to our democratic Republic is immense.”
Jim
Arizona
Transcript for Jim
I changed my affiliation right after the January 6th insurrection.
I've always felt myself a Patriot. I've always stood based on principles and the principles I thought that the Republican party stood for. After watching January 6th and our leadership's reactions to it,
the initial reactions were okay right? But subsequent to that, completely unacceptable to me as a principled individual who puts a constitution before party.
When you say the election is rigged. That is an extraordinary claim and it requires extraordinary evidence because the damaging nature to our democratic Republic is immense.
“When Donald Trump was elected, I thought that Pandora’s box had been opened and that we were never going to see our country in the same light that we had.”
Elizabeth
Arizona
Transcript for Elizabeth
What affected my feelings towards the party was the election of Donald Trump.
When Donald Trump was elected, I thought that Pandora's box had been opened and that we were never going to see our country in the same light that we had.
With the election of Donald Trump and the people that he put in office, it opened up a quagmire for allowing people to express their extreme hatred.
What we have with Trump is on the edge of fascism with a dictator.
So is that really what you want? Where's our democracy then?
“Extremism is doing so much damage to the country.”
Joe
Wisconsin
Transcript for Joe
I'm from Wisconsin, and at the moment I consider myself a Republican, and I've been a Republican for my entire life.
The morning of November 4th, when Trump falsely declared victory and claimed that the election was being stolen, that raised an alarm in my mind that had never been raised before.
That to me shows a real deeply rooted problem in the Republican Party.
And it's devastating.
Extremism is doing so much damage to the country.
Trump and allies have spread so many lies and conspiracy theories that are doing so much damage to this country with all of the distrust that they're sowing in the American people and all the divisions that they're creating between Americans.
“Anybody cozying up to Trump is not gonna have my vote in 2022.”
Judy
Texas
Transcript for Judy
a suburb of Houston, Texas
and I am an angry Republican.
My parents were Republicans,
they were conservatives.
I grew up in a Christian family.
This idea of less government
really, supporting conservative
values was important to me for
most of my voting record, you know,
in the United States government.
I do have a litmus test for who is a
true Republican, and it wouldn't be
someone that is still cozying up to Trump
because what we're finding out in the
January 6th Committee hearings is that
there was a lot of things that Trump
did that no other president has done.
So anybody cozying up to Trump is
not gonna have my vote in 2022.
“The extremism due to Donald Trump has twisted the party in directions that I cannot believe the Republican Party could go.”
Curtis
Wisconsin
Transcript for Curtis
I'm a former Republican from Wisconsin.
I vote for the candidates most qualified or the lesser of two evils in the case of the presidency in 2016.
If Liz Cheney was in my district, I'd be voting for her right now.
You know, I just want the right people in there.
The right people that I feel are protecting our democracy and working for the people as opposed to big business or whoever else they felt like working for that day.
The extremism due to Donald Trump has twisted the party in directions that I cannot believe the Republican Party could go.
The biggest threat to our democracy today is Donald Trump and those who will not let go of his coattails.
It just solidifies my opinion that the GOP is lost.
“One of the reasons I’ve become a former Republican is because I really don’t see the Republican Party representing my interests or the interests of all Americans.”
Margaret
Michigan
Transcript for Margaret
I live in Milford, Michigan, and I am a former Republican.
One of the reasons I've become a former Republican is because I really don't see the Republican Party representing my interests or the interests of all Americans.
I've seen political in-fighting.
I've seen terrible skewing of what I believe are the true reasons that a Republican should be able to represent themselves.
I really hope that the Republican Party would look for values like creating a better world, a more collaborative world, a better climate world, something that we could hand down to our children and our grandchildren.
And I don't see that happening.
My hope would be that we could really elect true leaders who represent all of us, so we can work towards peaceful solutions.
It's pretty scary what's happening right now.
“The Republican Party is hung up on riling up everybody’s emotions to win elections.”
Doug
Michigan
Transcript for Doug
Michigan and I'm a Rockefeller Republican.
I believe the Republican
Party has lost its bearing.
I believe the Republican Party is
more concerned about winning elections
than about doing what's right.
I believe that the Republican Party
is absolutely filled with hypocrisy.
The Republican Party has thrown out Peter
Meijer and Liz Cheney, the Democratic
Party has their own thorns in the flesh.
They don't throw him out.
That says to me that the Democratic
Party is a party that's open to ideas.
Extremism is- plays on emotions.
I think the Republican Party is
hung up on riling up everybody's
emotions to win elections.
“I really feel like the party had left me, violently and extremely.”
Roy
Michigan
Transcript for Roy
I'm a former Republican in Michigan.
Many people have said it the same way, I don't feel I left the party.
I really feel like the party had left me, violently and extremely.
I've seen the party go from being a group of people that had certain principles about governance and had certain policies that they believed in and that you could count on over time to becoming pretty much a cult of personality.
It was all based on the whims of one person.
And the only policies that really came forth were the things that looked like they could benefit that one person and to the detriment of everybody else in the country.
I think extremism related to Trump, it is beyond the law.
It is dangerous to the country.
It is harmful to our people and to our national interest.
I really think it's exceptionally bad news for us and for our future.
“I feel like our party was stolen. I want it back.”
Susan
Wisconsin
Transcript for Susan
I'm from Wisconsin, and I am a Republican.
I've served in the state legislature for 10 years as a Republican.
Today's GOP is a tragedy.
It's frightening.
They do not adhere to the Republican standards.
I feel like our party was stolen.
I want it back.
I believe that Donald Trump has some real psychological problems.
It's frightening to see a man like that command as much power and following as he does.
I told my Republican friends that the man is evil.
The people I know that follow Trump have blinders on.
They have blinders on.
I don't understand that.
This is beyond my comprehension.
“[Trump] just revealed who he really is after the election in 2020”
Mark
Michigan
Transcript for Mark
I live in Schoolcraft, Michigan.
I am not affiliated with any
party, but I am a conservative.
I'm an evangelical Christian and base my
voting decisions on biblical doctrine when
it comes to moral issues and the character
of individuals who are running for office.
I voted for Jimmy Carter as president.
That was the last Democratic
president I voted for.
I voted for Trump because of Biden.
I was not disappointed that he lost.
He just revealed who he really is
after the election in 2020 in what
he did, the way he reacted by denying
the election, calling it rigged.
And he's still singing that same tune.
Just let it go.
Let's have a peaceful transfer
of power, and he is the first
one to have a dicky fit over it.
“We need to get past this era of extremists.”
Brian
Pennsylvania
Transcript for Brian
I live in Harbor Creek Township,it's just
east of Erie, Northwest Pennsylvania,
I've been a lifelong Republican.
Until January fifth, I was a strong Donald
Trump supporter, I voted for him in both
elections, had January 6th not happened,
quite possibly might have done it again,
but seeing people obviously gone even
past extremism to basically anarchy,
we need to get past this era
of extremists and really just
isolating ourselves, I think, from
what real mainstream values are.
“It’s not the party of personal responsibility, is not the party of character matters.”
Andrew
Wisconsin
Transcript for Andrew
My, the final straw with me
voting Republican really was
the nomination of Donald Trump.
He seemed like such a, on his face,
awful person, awful candidate bad leader
and the the way he's pied piper, his
way into, I don't know, 40% of the
population is really breathtaking.
It's not the party of personal
responsibility is not the party of,
character matters, and routinely,
puts people on the ballot who not only
have skeletons in their closet, but
are proud of, you know, like being
a bad person is a badge of honor.
“There’s no basis for the big steal of the election. All the various lawsuits have been tossed out for lack of evidence.”
Keith
Arizona
Transcript for Keith
I am from Arizona.
I've been a Republican since I was 18 and
kind of followed in my parents' footsteps.
For me, I felt like January the sixth
was the straw that broke the camels back
and the lack of Republicans in Congress
willing to, if not impeach, at least
stand up and, and stop the madness that
was going on in the Republican party.
There's no basis for the
big steal of the election.
All the various lawsuits have been
tossed out for lack of evidence.
And I just feel like they
continue to promote a lie.
At first I thought I'd heard Republicans
standing up to this craziness, but as
they turned away and many became silent
and many changed their tune, I just found
it disgusting and intolerable for me.
“The effort to overthrow our government, that, that culminated in January 6th. Is the most serious threat facing our democracy.”
Laura
Wisconsin
Transcript for Laura
I am from Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin.
Um, I was brought up in a Republican home
and I became a Republican from birth.
I believe really that what the effort
to overthrow our government, that,
that culminated in January 6th.
Is the most serious threat
facing our democracy.
We've had four years of Donald Trump.
Did we like that?
A man with no government experience
who had no respect for the government.
I can't vote for people that are
going to deny the workings of our
government as it was designed to work.
“These Trump endorsed candidates are scary. Mainly because they seem to be more antisemitic, anti-minority. I wouldn’t vote for anybody that Trump would endorse”.
Jim
Wisconsin
Transcript for Jim
Um, I live in, uh, Waukesha, Wisconsin,
I was a Republican for 52 years.
It was Trump's attacks on, on Hillary
Clinton, which I wasn't a big fan of,
but, uh, when I saw how vicious he
was and, um, you know, first of all, I
didn't think he was ever a Republican.
He certainly was never conservative.
And, and as far as being, being followed
by the Christian, right, that just
gagged me because he, he is no more
religious figure than, um, than a rock.
These Trump endorsed candidates are scary.
Um, mainly because they, uh, they seem to
be more antisemitic, uh, anti-minority,
I wouldn't vote for anybody
that Trump would endorse.
“It seems to have been taken hostage by extreme right wingers.”
James
Arizona
Transcript for James
I'm from Arizona.
My wife and I were
Republicans for 50 years.
When Donald Trump won the nomination for
the party for the Republican party, I
just didn't understand how the party
could nominate someone like Donald Trump.
It seems to have been taken
hostage by extreme right wingers.
I believe there's more racial
hatred that's visible now.
“Judge Luttig commented on him, as posing a grave threat to our democracy. I think that’s what we’re facing here. What’s gonna happen to democracy in America”
John
California
Transcript for John
I think he's poses a grave danger danger to the country of, because he doesn't understand it, how to do international relations, how to provide healthcare, how to take care of education.
He's not interested in those things.
Judge Luttig commented on him, as posing a grave threat to our democracy.
I think that's what we're facing here. What's gonna happen to democracy in America, if not only Donald Trump. I mean, you look at the Republican state, election platform, and, and they're hyper radical. So it's not Trump alone. It's those in the party. With many exceptions who just go along with him, like, like a bunch of lemings and they're ready to jump off the cliff.
“Shortly after Trump took office, I witnessed him making fun of a disabled person…I regretted my vote right away.”
Heather
South Carolina
Transcript for Heather
I'm a former Republican party member.
I'm from South Carolina I
voted for Trump in 2016.
But shortly after Trump took
office, I witnessed him making
fun of a disabled person.
I was so disappointed in him and
it really showed his character.
I regretted my vote right away.
Throughout his time in office, I watched
him oppress many different groups.
And when he was confronted with
that, the language he used to defend
himself was outdated and offensive.
And I guess after that,
I just, was all done.
“In part, I judge a candidate by the company they keep. Republicans don’t look good.”
Mark
Wisconsin
Transcript for Mark
I used to consider myself a Republican,
although I was never registered now
I'm just a pissed off independent.
As we've seen business experience
doesn't necessarily equate to
political ability or a better country.
In part, I judge a candidate
by the company they keep.
Republicans don't look good.
The anger, almost hatred that some
Wisconsin Republican leaders seem
to exhibit towards citizens who
refused to walk in lockstep with
them combined with the party's
refusal to accept election reality.
Unfortunately means I cannot
consider voting for them.
What Wisconsin needs is a Kinzinger
“I’m not a Republican anymore because it seems that the only real conservative principle now is owning the libs.”
Lara
Texas
Transcript for Lara
I am from Houston, Texas,
and I am a former Republican.
I've always considered myself
to be a lifetime Republican.
It, it was a part of who I am and I'm
not a Republican anymore because it
seems that the only real conservative
principle now is owning the libs.
I believe in limited government, in
personal responsibility, in economic
freedom, in the Constitution.
I believe the same things I always did.
I'm not the one who changed.
Um, they are.
“I really despise Donald Trump , and I think he is a danger to this country, and I think another presidency would be the kiss of death.”
Susan
Kentucky
Transcript for Susan
I've been a registered Republican
for more than 50 years.
Um, I really despise Donald
Trump , and I think he is a danger
to this country, and I think another
presidency would be the kiss of death.
It is critical that you remain
registered as a Republican because
we very likely have a chance to,
uh, vote against Trump in a primary.
You can probably do more good
voting him out than anybody else in.
“Sometimes we lose. Sometimes we win. But creating a false universe where you believe that Donald Trump won the election does not change reality.”
DG
New Jersey
Transcript for DG
live in Sussex county, New Jersey.
I identify myself as a traditional
conservative, um, who believes
in conservative values, such
as dignity, integrity, honesty.
Those who believe that
the election was stolen:
I get it.
I understand.
I understand why you feel that way.
I supported Trump for three full years.
I am a former cultist myself.
You are not expecting Donald
Trump to lose the election.
So watching Donald Trump lose the
election, it puts you in a place where
you didn't wanna be, but most importantly,
where you didn't imagine being ever.
Sometimes we lose.
Sometimes we win.
But creating a false universe where
you believe that Donald Trump won
the election does not change reality.
“Trump is ruining the Republican Party. He lost the House, the Senate and the Presidency. He is a loser and we should not be backing a loser.”
Avis
Arizona
Transcript for Avis
really do not like what Trump has done.
He has turned, good Republicans into
Republicans that only will believe
what he says, they believe the
election, the 2020 election was stolen.
Trump is ruining the Republican Party.
He lost the House, the
Senate and the Presidency.
He is a loser and we should
not be backing a loser.
We really need to get somebody besides
Trump as the leader of our Party,
or this Party is doomed to fail.
And if that means voting
for Democrats, so be it.
“As long as Trump is in the picture, I’m still going to unite around whatever or whoever opposes him.”
Brian
Texas
Transcript for Brian
technically, suburb west of Houston.
I mean, as long as Trump is in the
picture, I'm still going to unite
around whatever or whoever opposes
him, whether that be in the Republican
Party or not, whatever has the best
chance to keep him out of office.
I've been impressed, with Liz Cheney,
standing up for her principles, you
know, at the possible, or perhaps likely,
you know, effect of maybe not being
reelected, but being okay with that.
To do what she thinks is right while
in office, you know, getting elected
and doing what you think is right, even
if you think it hurts your chances.
We need more who's hold to their
principles, which she is doing.
“It wasn’t an easy decision to break with the party. [….] But I don’t regret it one bit.”
Jennifer
Texas
Transcript for Jennifer
and I consider myself a former
Republican, having left the party over
Trump, actually going back to 2016.
Simply stated, I felt like he was a
threat to our democracy and still is.
Last couple years of high school, in
college, interned at the Republican
Party of Texas here, worked for
Republican officeholders, elected
and appointed officials, have always,
you know, been involved indirectly
or directly over the years in
Republican politics in this state.
And so it wasn't an easy
decision to break with the party,
and again, like I say, it hasn't
necessarily always been a popular one.
But I don't regret it one bit.
Defending our democracy, even if
that means voting for a Democrat
is something that we have to do at
this point in time in our history.
“Honor means respecting the rule of law. Honor means doing right by your neighbors. Honor means doing right by the country. Honor means upholding the Constitution of the United States.”
John
New Mexico
Transcript for John
Mexico, and I'm a conservative.
I was a Republican for most of my
adult life, but I no longer am.
I think the Republican
Party has lost honor.
I think they've lost it through,
they lost track of what being a
principled individual is all about.
They accept lies.
Honor means respecting the rule of law.
Honor means doing right by your neighbors.
Honor means doing right by the country.
Honor means upholding the
Constitution of the United States.
When I joined the service, I pledged
my life to the United States, to
the Constitution of the United
States, not to a single individual,
not, this is not a monarchy.
This is a Republic.
“I hold him responsible for the election of Joe Biden, who I do not support.”
Dugald
Texas
Transcript for Dugald
I live in Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas.
I've been a Republican for
at least 50 years of my life.
Going back to when my father
explained it to me when I was 15.
I'm really concerned today about the
direction of the Republican Party.
I think the election of Donald
Trump was the beginning of the end.
Maybe not the end of the Republican
Party, but it's been, it was the
beginning of a decline that is so
regrettable and very concerning.
Yes, I hold him entirely responsible
and quite frankly, I hold him
responsible for the election of
Joe Biden, who I do not support.
In this most recent election,
I had to vote for Biden.
I really didn't like doing it, but
I couldn't vote for Donald Trump.
“The simple vote to certify the election in January 2021, when hundreds of Republicans voted against certifying, you know, my vote. That really threw me.”
Erin
Texas
Transcript for Erin
I haven't felt in good conscience I could
vote for hardly any Republican candidates
anymore that supported the president.
I think I have such a dim view of the
vast majority of people right now.
Just, again, the simple vote to
certify the election in January 2021,
when hundreds of Republicans voted
against certifying, you know, my vote.
That really threw me.
I think it, it does surprise some people.
I'm a, cause I'm a military spouse,
people assume we're all very
Republican, and we're really, we're
really not, especially right now.
A lot of us are pretty disgusted by, you
know, the overthrow of the rule of law
that happened, the attempt to do that.
“In 2020, I joined a group, Republicans for Biden, not because I had become a Democrat, but because Biden was a better alternative”
John
Arizona
Transcript for John
I've been a registered
Republican for 35 years.
I was stationed in the country
of Finland with the U.S.
Air Force and representing the United
States, as we helped the Finnish military
come closer to NATO, and then when I moved
back to the United States, and recognized
what Trump was doing to the U.S.
reputation abroad, that
hurt me as an American.
I couldn't support him.
So I made the transition, in 2020, I
joined a group, Republicans for Biden,
not because I had become a Democrat, but
because Biden was a better alternative
than having Donald Trump serve four
more years at the, in the White House
and at the head of the United States.
“Josh [Hawley], literally posing a picture of his fist in the air, egging on the protestors, and when push comes to shove, when they finally storm the Capitol, he decides to be a chicken and run away from his life, which really exposes the fraud that he is.”
Miguel
Texas
Transcript for Miguel
from Dallas, Texas, and what my
relationship with the Republican Party
is that I'm still in the Republican
Party, but as a liberal Republican,
and I'm still continuing the fight
against social fundamentalists.
What drew me from to the Republican
Party was the old principles
that I learned in college so far.
Old school Republican principles
is what drew me and seeing what
the Republican Party is today
is nothing but sadden to me.
So I've, I've been watching the
January 6th Committee, especially
the one about Josh Hawley, literally
posing a picture of his fist in
the air, egging on the protestors,
and when push comes to shove, when they
finally storm the Capitol, he decides to
be a chicken and run away from his life,
which really exposes the fraud that he is.
“When [Kevin McCarthy] flip-flopped and fell in line after a few weeks, when people gathered back around Trump, I just thought that was terrible.”
Jim
Florida
Transcript for Jim
I live in Flagler Beach, Florida,
and I'm a registered Republican.
I'm a fiscal conservative, but
I do not like the direction the
Republican Party is headed right now.
Liz Cheney in the January 6th hearings
has conducted herself professionally
with integrity, transparency, and
honesty, and I've agreed with nearly
everything she said and am profoundly
appreciative of her patriotism.
Kevin McCarthy to me is despicable.
I think originally when he
correctly denounced Donald Trump's
involvement with the insurrection,
you know, I respected that,
and then when he flip flopped and
fell in line after a few weeks, when
people gathered back around Trump,
I just thought that was terrible.
“I just can’t believe where the party’s gone.
We used to be the parties of morals.”
John
California
Transcript for John
But the straw that broke the camel's back was Donald Trump, Marjorie Taylor Greene and the rest of them.
Now they're promoting the likes of Herschel Walker and white supremacist guys.
I just can't believe where the party's gone.
We used to be the parties of morals.
We ain't that.
And the party of fiscal responsibility.
Donald Trump ran up about $8 to $9 trillion and most of that before the pandemic.
And nobody knows where that money went.
Nobody's talking about where that money went.
And if you want me to start voting Republican, then we need to know where the money went.
We need accountability.
There is no accountability in our political party anymore.
“I have since changed because they’ve changed.”
Danita
Kansas
Transcript for Danita
Overland Park, Kansas area, and I was
a registered Republican for 42 years.
I was a conservative because I grew
up in a conservative Christian home.
My dad was military, he was
conservative, my mother was conservative.
My faith is very important to me
and I, and I felt like that was,
that was the path by which the,
where my values lied, that they
were with the Republican Party's.
And I have since changed
because they've changed.
My faith has always informed my life.
I think when you have a, a
Christian walk, you, you want to
emulate Christlike examples, right?
And, Christ, I think if Christ
was actually to show up today on
the Republican Party, he would
be booed and hissed out the door.
The sympathy, the caring for the,
the poor and the sick and the
kids and the hungry - none of that
is done by the Republican Party.
“Your team may have gotten outscored and you have to accept that, you can’t go back and change what happened.”
James
Arizona
Transcript for James
registered Republican all my
voting life and I live in Arizona.
In the Republican Party, it
seems that the whole process
now seems to be about winning.
And I think that principles are more
important than winning at times.
Anybody that is a fan of college
football, you can get very wrapped up
in the calls during the game, but at
the end of the game as they do at Texas
A&M, your team may have gotten outscored
and you have to accept that, you can't
go back and change what happened.
I'm somewhat familiar with what the
poll workers have to go through here in
Arizona and that whole process, and it
is very difficult to manipulate votes.
“We are not the enemy of the people. We’re part of the checks and balances of a free democratic society.”
Peter
Florida
Transcript for Peter
I was a Republican for more than 30 years.
I am now an independent because
Trump did us wrong and I can't
support the party with Trump in it.
I was a reporter for more than 40 years.
I worked at seven stations all across
the United States, Idaho, Kansas, St. Louis.
I worked at Channel Eight in Tampa
here for 17 and a half years, during
that time, I covered everything from
hurricanes to politics, to school board
meetings, to fires, floods, and murders.
The free press has come under fire
under the Trump administration.
I remember distinctly Donald Trump looking
at the cameras and pointing out them
and saying, see those people back there?
They're the enemy of the people.
We are not the enemy of the people.
We're part of the checks and balances
of a free democratic society.
If it weren't for the media, how
would we know about the Watergate?
How would we know about some of
the shenanigans that are going on?
Just take modern history,
the January 6th riot.
“There was absolutely no constitutional way forward to try to […] go around or circumvent that election.”
Ann
Maryland
Transcript for Ann
I live in southern Maryland, and I've
been a registered Republican for 42 years.
There are certain things that
I view as non-starters issues.
If somebody crosses a certain line, I
cannot support them for political office.
1
In times past, I would say that abortion,
the abortion issue was one such item.
I would have even considered
myself an abolitionist.
There are other things that are even more
important and more of a red line, and
the biggest of those that I saw crossed
was with former President Donald Trump.
When he went against the US Constitution,
tried to overthrow an election, I can see
having a disagreement about an election, I
can see taking the outcome to the courts,
but once the Supreme Court ruled that it
would not hear the court, that, the case,
that the lower court rulings would stand.
There was absolutely no constitutional
way forward to try to go around
or circumvent that election.
However, that is exactly what
Donald Trump tried to do.
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