A former Staten Island Republican in Congress is crossing party lines to back Democrat Kamala Harris for president.
Susan Molinari, daughter of another prominent New York Republican, told Spectrum News NY1 she believes Harris is "smart," “strong” and “knows how to handle herself on the world stage.”
“And she's not crazy,” she said.
Molinari is part of a new “Republicans for Harris” coalition. It's an effort to reach out to disaffected members of the GOP who, like her, may not agree with everything Democrats stand for policy-wise, but view former President Donald Trump as a volatile threat.
Molinari, whose father Guy served as congressman and later Staten Island borough president, argues her announcement should be viewed as “both” an endorsement of Harris and an endorsement against Trump.
In 2020, the former congresswoman also broke with her party, throwing her support behind Joe Biden.
Addressing the Democratic National Convention that year alongside other Republicans, she said, “I've known Donald Trump for most of my political career — so disappointing and lately so disturbing.”
Four years later, Molinari stands by the endorsement, arguing the president’s recent actions have only “reinforced” her decision.
“Here was a man who was giving up the job he wanted most in life while he was negotiating the return of hostages,” she said, invoking Biden’s decision to step aside from the 2024 presidential contest.
Unlike Molinari, other Republican critics of Trump have opted to stick with the Republican ticket, including former Trump Attorney General Bill Barr.
Asked about Barr, Molinari said, “I don't want to sit in judgment of anyone. But you know he has clearly said, ‘Trump is a national danger.’ How can you put him back in office?”
Molinari said she is still a Republican, and remains hopeful that her party might revert to the one she once knew. It's the party of her father, who was himself a longtime GOP powerbroker on Staten Island who had the backing of both the state Conservative and Republican parties in various races.
“I would not be surprised that my father would never vote for Donald Trump,” she said. “I think he would be proud of me and understands all the reasons that I was doing it.”
“I wouldn't be surprised if he was not a Republican for Biden or a Republican for Harris,” she added.
Down ballot, New York is poised to be make or break for which party controls Congress.
Her advice to Republican voters in the state’s competitive districts: be informed and thoughtful, do not hold Trump against the whole ticket, and know that “splitting your ticket is a very easy thing to do.”
Molinari, who was once “very close” to Rudy Giuliani, said it makes her "so sad" to see what has become of the former New York City mayor turned Trump attorney.
“Donald Trump leaves very few people untouched and unscathed. And Rudy Giuliani is probably exhibit number one,” she said.