Republican John Kasich To Endorse Joe Biden At Democratic National Convention

Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican who ran for president in 2016, will speak on behalf of presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden at the Democratic National Convention in August, a source told the Associated Press.

Kasich, a frequent critic of President Trump, served as Ohio’s governor from 2011 to 2019. A fiscal conservative, he has taken more liberal stances on issues such as LGBT rights, and has acknowledged the threat of climate change. As governor, he accepted the Medicaid expansion under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, angering some conservative lawmakers in his state.

In 2016, Kasich finished third behind Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas in the GOP primaries. Now a CNN contributor, he publicly stated that he supported the impeachment of Trump in October. Kasich has slammed Trump for his coronavirus response and claims Trump is having a “meltdown” over his poor polling numbers.

Kasich is one of the most prominent Republicans to reject Trump’s presidency. “Never Trump” Republicans such as George W. Bush adviser Steve Schmidt have formed The Lincoln Project, a political action committee dedicated to denying Trump a second term.

Kasich’s endorsement at the DNC could influence moderate Republicans to vote for Biden in the general election. Kasich’s ties to Ohio could also help Biden win the important swing state, which has 18 electoral votes.