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Republican representative Adam Kinzinger has endorsed several Democrats less than a month before midterm elections in November.
Kinzinger, an Illinois Republican, has criticized many members of the Republican Party since the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. He started the political action committee Country First shortly after Capitol riot with the intent to "reclaim democracy," according to the organization's website.
Kinzinger was one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump after the Capitol riot. Today, Country First endorsed candidates in several races, and many Democrats made the list, including in two tight gubernatorial races.
Country First supported Republican candidates in Alaska, Connecticut, Georgia and Minnesota, and crossed party lines for gubernatorial races in Arizona and Pennsylvania, and secretary of state races in Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota and Nevada. The organization also endorsed independent candidates in a Utah U.S. senate race and an Arizona U.S. House race.
Among the Democrat endorsements are Josh Shapiro and Katie Hobbs, two Democrat candidates vying for governor in Pennsylvania and Arizona respectively. Country First applauded Shapiro for being a "staunch defender of our democratic institutions," and criticized Shapiro's Republican opponent, Doug Mastriano, for spreading "dangerous conspiracy theories." Country First lauded Hobbs in similar fashion and criticized her opponent, Kari Lake, as an "election denier."
Mastriano and Lake were both endorsed by Trump.
Earlier this week, Hobbs had a .4-point lead over Lake in the polls. Trump is scheduled to rally with Lake later this week.
Shapiro has led Mastriano by a greater margin. Last week, a poll by WHTM/Emerson College Polling/The Hill showed Shapiro with a lead of at least 10 points.
In a press release, Country First said it endorsed certain candidates not for their party affiliations but for standing "ready to defend democracy and build cross-partisan coalitions that can make our country stronger."
"Now more than ever, it's critical we elect leaders up and down the ballot who are loyal to the Constitution and willing to be a bulwark for democracy – regardless of their political party affiliation," Kinzinger said in the press release.
"We must set partisan politics and ideology aside in order to preserve our nation's democracy and demand accountability in our leaders. I'm proud to endorse this slate of candidates that are ready to put our country and the American people first."
Newsweek reached out to Country First for comment.
About the writer
Anna Skinner is a Newsweek senior reporter based in Indianapolis. Her focus is reporting on the climate, environment and weather ... Read more