From MAGA to Harris: Why I decided to leave the chaos of Donald Trump’s party behind | Opinion

In 2016, I was a dedicated supporter of Donald Trump. I devoted considerable effort to elect and reelect the former president, writing campaign scripts, working at phone banks, assisting voter registration, guiding voters to polls and persuading politically uncertain Americans to support Trump.

I unapologetically supported Trump.

However, I now realize his disruptions were damaging to our democracy. This November, we face a choice between stability — Vice President Harris — and chaos — Trump. And this time, I’m choosing to reject the chaos.

The truth is, after Trump lost in 2020, he snapped. I took the time to better understand the Jan. 6 insurrection, and, to my horror, discovered that the groups who coordinated the attack seemingly had the blessing of Trump — the most powerful person in the world. Additionally, I vehemently disagreed with Trump’s continued lies about a “stolen election.” I knew he had lost, and was angry that he and his allies continued to manipulate and exploit their followers.

There were many reasons for my leaving MAGA; the first catalyst was Trump’s ally, my governor: Ron DeSantis.

When Floridians were falling ill and dying from COVID-19, he followed Trump’s lead and flip-flopped from supporting common-sense public health measures to actively opposing lifesaving measures like the COVID-19 vaccine. Leaving MAGA on Aug. 30, 2022, was a choice for compassion and steadiness over cruelty and spitefulness.

As a working-class father and husband, like many of you, I am concerned about economic opportunities, constitutional freedoms, living costs, safety, our children’s education, Social Security, Medicare, and America’s global standing. I assure you, many Trump supporters share these concerns and are fundamentally good people.

For those considering abstaining from voting, I urge you to remember that not voting is still a choice — one that could significantly impact your life and your loved ones.

For me, the most important trait for a political leader is that he or she cares about others — not just their own voters, but also those who voted for other candidates.

Harris exemplifies this quality. In the White House, she has helped bring back manufacturing jobs in a post-pandemic economy, taken on “Big Pharma” to bring down health care costs, and helped bring unemployment to a historic low. And she has always stood up for American national security as a critical partner to President Joe Biden in restoring American leadership on the world stage.

This doesn’t mean I agree with her on everything, and I will continue to support reasonable Republicans in Florida.

But I value the robust, civil discourse that defines a thriving democracy. This moment in our history calls for unlikely but essential alliances.

We the people are one team. Trump is a divider. As a uniter, Harris is best suited to lead our nation.