(The Center Square) – Former Georgia Republican Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan took the stage on the third night of the Democratic National Convention and told his party to do the “right thing” and support Vice President Kamala Harris for president this November.
“I am a Republican, but tonight I stand here as an American,” Duncan said to a cheering crowd in Chicago. “An American that cares more about the future of this country than the future of Donald Trump.”
Duncan was not the first, nor the last, Republican to speak to the gathered Democrats over the first few days of the convention. They all had the same message: Former President Donald Trump poses a threat to America, so Republicans should vote for Harris.
“My journey started to this podium years ago when I realized that Donald Trump was willing to lie, cheat and steal to overturn the 2020 election,” Duncan said.
Soon after, he called Trump a “direct threat to democracy.”
“His actions disqualified him from ever, ever, ever stepping foot into the Oval Office again.”
From 2019 to 2023, Duncan served as the 12th lieutenant governor of Georgia under Gov. Brian Kemp. He is a political commentator at CNN, since distancing himself from the Republicans in 2020.
Duncan called 2020 the “lowest of lows” for himself and his family.
This was after Duncan pushed back against Trump’s rhetoric around the 2020 election, especially about fraud in Georgia. He said Republicans should stop making excuses for Trump.
“I’m going to focus my attention on the millions of Republicans and independents that are at home that are sick and tired of making excuses for Donald Trump,” Duncan said. “If Republicans are being intellectually honest with ourselves, our party is not civil or conservative, it’s chaotic and crazy. The only thing left to do is dump Trump.”
He added that Republicans don’t need to agree with Harris’ political positions.
“These days, our party acts more like a cult; a cult worshiping a felonious thug,” Duncan said. “Look, you don’t have to agree with every policy position of Kamala Harris. I don’t. But you do have to recognize her prosecutor mindset, that understands right from wrong, good from evil. She’s a steady hand and will bring leadership to the White House that Donald Trump could never do.”
Some called Duncan’s speech “the most powerful speech yet at the DNC.”
The social media account Republicans Against Trump responded to Duncan.
“Thank you for your courage,” it posted.
Many other Democrats joined the praise, but not all the response to the speech was positive.
“When did communism become the right thing,” one person commented.
Others called Duncan a “sellout,” “traitor,” and a political “RINO.” The acronym stands for Republican in name only.
Duncan said his message wasn’t for Democrats, but for Republicans.
“Let me be clear to my Republican friends at home watching,” he said. “If you vote for Kamala Harris in 2024, you are not a Democrat, you are a patriot.”
He called on Republicans to have the courage to step away from the party.
“To my fellow Republicans at home that want to pivot back to policy, empathy, and tone, you know the right thing to do,” Duncan said. “Now, let’s have the courage to do it in November.”
On Thursday night, Harris will wrap up the last night of the convention by officially accepting the nomination of the Democratic Party.
By Elyse Apel | The Center Square
Elyse Apel is an apprentice reporter with The Center Square, covering Georgia and North Carolina. She is a 2024 graduate of Hillsdale College.
