Republicans Who Just Say No to Trump
Romney, Jeb Bush among lawmakers rejecting expected nominee, others are on the fence
[Related: Trump’s Shotgun Marriage to the RNC] Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. “Eating a taco is probably not going to fix the problems we have with Hispanics.”
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush “American voters have made it clear that Washington is broken, but I’m not optimistic that either of the leading candidates for president will put us on a better course.”
[Related: Trump Not Worried About Party Unity] Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb. “A presidential candidate who boasts about what he’ll do during his ‘reign’ and refuses to condemn the KKK cannot lead a conservative movement in America”
2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney “The bullying, the greed, the showing off , the misogyny…”
[Related: An Autopsy of the Autopsy] Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla. “I think there’s a small possibility that this gentleman is a phantom candidate .”
Rep. Robert J. Dold, R-Ill. “[F]or me it was very personal his comments about POWs. As you know, my uncle was the second one shot in the Vietnam War , and for me these comments altogether are not about uniting a country.”
Rep. Reid Ribble, R-Wis. “For the record, condemning the KKK isn’t something you should have to think twice about.”
[Related: The Case for Gingrich as Trump’s Running Mate] Rep. Scott Rigell, R-Va. “I reject Trump as our nominee based on his judgment, temperament and character, all of which point to a reckless, embarrassing and ultimately dangerous presidency.”
Rep. Richard Hanna, R-N.Y. “This campaign is beneath the dignity of the American people.”
Former senator Gordon Humphrey, R-N.H. “Unequivocally, I am not supporting Donald Trump. I think he is a sociopath.”
A Party Divided: GOP Leaders Split on Supporting the Donald
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Then there’s maybe
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis. “I’m just not ready to do that at this point.”
[Related: 5 Things to Know About the Ryan-Trump Meeting] Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo. “Trump’s slurs and attacks, not only do I find them not presidential, I just don’t even find them suitable in society.”
Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz. “I would rather Mr. Trump change some of his positions or modify them.”
Virginia Rep. Barbara Comstock, R-Va. “Idiotic.”
[Related: Podcast: Trump Looms Large as Congress Returns] Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa. “He has a lot of fence mending to do.”
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash. “I would like to have a conversation with him.”
Rep. John Katko, R-N.Y. “He’s basically sticking the middle finger to the establishment, and that’s what’s resonating.”
Correction: An earlier version of this story said Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., had declined to endorse Trump. Instead, she said he has to earn her vote. Contact Rojas at warrenrojas@rollcall.com and follow him on Twitter at @WARojas. Contact Rahman at remarahman@cqrollcall.com or follow her on Twitter at @remawriter. Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone or your Android.