Former Republican US Senator Endorses Kamala Harris, Says Election Presents ‘Tough Choice’

EXCLUSIVE: Three more Republicans are crossing the aisle to support Vice President Kamala Harris for the White House.

Former U.S. Sen. Nancy Kassebaum, R-Kan., former Kansas state Sen. and Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger and Deanell Reece Tacha, a retired federal judge, condemned the Republicans’ current state of affairs in a statement shared with Fox News Digital on Thursday .

“This election represents a difficult decision that is not easy for any of us. “The Republican Party of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Bob Dole, Frank Carlson, Jan Meyers and generations of Kansas leaders does not exist within the current Republican Party,” the former officials wrote.

“But it requires Republicans to speak up and put country above party when those values ​​are at stake.”

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Retired Republican Sen. Nancy Kassebaum led a group of Republican women from Kansas supporting Vice President Kamala Harris (Getty Images)

They added that the race between Harris and former President Trump represents a “difficult, but not easy” decision.

“No candidate is perfect, and we do not purport to support all policy positions of national parties or individual candidates,” they wrote.

“However, we firmly believe we must do our part to build a better future, which is why we will be voting for Kamala Harris and (Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz) in this election. We believe they most closely align with the aspirations of Kansans and reflect our rich history of working together “through adversity to the stars.”

However, in the most recent election, all three supported Democrats.

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Kassebaum, now named Nancy Kassebaum Baker, was a member of the U.S. Senate from December 1978 to January 1997.

She was the first woman elected to represent Kansas in the chamber, and her career included a stint as chairwoman of the Senate Labor Committee.

Deanell Reece Tacha was nominated by former President Reagan to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit in 1985 (Getty Images)

Tacha was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit by former President Reagan in 1985 and served as chief judge from 2001 to 2008.

Praeger served as Kansas insurance commissioner from 2003 to 2015.

During the campaign, Harris made a point of courting Republicans to broaden her appeal and portray Trump as an extreme and polarizing choice.

A majority of Republicans, particularly those still in elected office, support Trump.

However, the vice president has received the support of several notable GOP figures. Former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., former Vice President Dick Cheney and former Trump administration staffers Stephanie Grisham and Olivia Troye have all publicly declared their support for Harris.

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Troye is one of several people who led a Republican event for Harris on Thursday along with former Reps. Barbara Comstock, R-Va., and Denver Riggleman, R-Va.

A new Marist College poll found Harris and Trump tied in three critical states.

Former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., is among the Republicans who have already declared their support for Harris. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

The two candidates are tied at 49% among likely voters in North Carolina, while Trump slightly trails Harris in Georgia and Arizona, 50% to 49% in both states.

These nationwide surveys were conducted September 19-24.

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The Harris campaign was asked for comment on the support of Kansas Republicans and sent Fox News Digital a broader statement on the Republicans for Harris initiative.

“The vice president is bringing together voters across the political spectrum by campaigning for freedom, democracy and opportunity,” said Austin Weatherford, National Republican Outreach Director.

“Our Republicans for Harris program brings this unifying, inspiring message to anti-Trump Republicans, moderates and independents. Although we are seeing an increase in support, we are not taking anyone for granted.”

The Trump campaign said of Harris’ endorsement: “Nobody knows who these people are and nobody cares.”