The first day of the Republican National Convention on Monday saw 27 former Republican members of Congress join the Republicans for Biden movement organized by the campaign of Democratic Party presidential candidate Joe Biden.
The convention, being held at Charlotte, North Carolina, will nominate President Donald Trump as its presidential candidate for the Nov. 3 election.
Monday's defections were a highlight of the launch of Republicans for Biden. The movement is a "national effort to engage Republicans who are supporting Biden this fall" and encourage them to organize support for Biden.
The large number of defections by members of his own political party is the latest condemnation of Trump and his un-American policies.
The new defections Monday saw members of Republicans for Biden encourage fellow party members to support Biden. In a rebuke to Trump these "former members of Congress cited Trump's corruption, destruction of democracy, blatant disregard for moral decency and urgent need to get the country back on course as a reason why they support Biden," a statement said.
Among members of the group are former Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona. There are now more than 100 Republican Party leaders that have abandoned Trump to endorse Biden and this will rise, according to Democrat sources quoted in news reports.
The Biden campaign said the 27 former Republican Party lawmakers believed Trump's "failures" in office "have superseded partisanship."
The Republicans for Biden movement joins a growing number of other Republican leaders, led by former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who have endorsed Biden while repudiating Trump.
On Aug. 21, 73 former national security officials from four Republican administrations and former Republican Party senators and congressmen announced their endorsement of Biden.
The national security experts banded together as a group called the Former Republican National Security Officials for Biden. This group consists of officials from the Trump, George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan administrations.
This group said Trump had "gravely damaged America's role as a world leader." Trump has shown he is unfit to lead during a national crisis. He solicited foreign influence from Russia and undermined the public's confidence in the U.S. presidential elections.
"In contrast, we believe Joe Biden has the character, experience and temperament to lead this nation," the group said. "We believe he will restore the dignity of the presidency, bring Americans together, reassert America's role as a global leader and inspire our nation to live up to its ideals."
