This is a list of Republicans and conservatives who announced their opposition to the election of Donald Trump , the 2016 Republican Party nominee and eventual winner of the election, as the President of the United States . It also includes former Republicans who left the party due to their opposition to Trump and as well as Republicans who endorsed a different candidate. It includes Republican presidential primary election candidates that announced opposition to Trump as the nominee. Some of the Republicans on this list threw their support to Trump after he won the presidential election, while many of them continue to oppose Trump. Offices listed are those held at the time of the 2016 election.
Government officials
Former U.S. presidents
Former President George H. W. Bush Former President George W. Bush
Former 2016 Republican presidential primary candidates
All candidates signed a pledge to eventually support the party nominee. The following refused to honor it after Trump became the Republican presidential nominee.
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush Senator Lindsey Graham
Former federal cabinet-level officials
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
William Bennett ,[a] Office of National Drug Control Policy (1989–1990); United States Secretary of Education (1985–1988)[14] Bill Brock , United States Secretary of Labor (1985–1987); United States Trade Representative (1981–1985); U.S. Senator from Tennessee (1971–1977); Chair of the Republican National Committee (1977–1981)[15] Michael Chertoff , United States Secretary of Homeland Security (2005–2009); Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (2003–2005) (endorsed Hillary Clinton )[16] [17] Bill Cohen , United States Secretary of Defense (1997–2001); United States Senator from Maine (1979–1997) (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[18] [19] Robert Gates , United States Secretary of Defense (2006–2011); Director of Central Intelligence (1991–1993)[20] Carlos Gutierrez , United States Secretary of Commerce (2005–2009) (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[21] Carla Anderson Hills , United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (1975–1977), United States Trade Representative (1989–1993) (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[16] [21] Ray LaHood , United States Secretary of Transportation (2009–2013), U.S. Representative from Illinois (1995–2009)[22] Greg Mankiw , Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers (2003–2005)[23] Mel Martinez , United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (2001–2003); United States Senator from Florida (2005–2009); General Chair of the Republican National Committee (2007)[24] [25] Michael Mukasey , United States Attorney General (2007–2009)[26] John Negroponte , United States Ambassador to the United Nations (2001–2004); Director of National Intelligence (2005–2007); United States Deputy Secretary of State (2007–2009) (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[16] [21] Henry Paulson , United States Secretary of the Treasury (2006–2009) (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[27] Colin Powell , United States Secretary of State (2001–2005), National Security Advisor (1987–1989) (voted for Hillary Clinton)[28] William K. Reilly , Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (1989–1992) (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[21] Condoleezza Rice ,[b] United States Secretary of State (2005–2009), National Security Advisor (2001–2005)[29] Tom Ridge , United States Secretary of Homeland Security (2003–2005); Homeland Security Advisor (2001–2003); Governor of Pennsylvania (1995–2001)[16] [30] [31] William Ruckelshaus , Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (1970–1973, 1983–1985) (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[21] Brent Scowcroft , National Security Advisor (1975–1977, 1989–1993); Chair of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board (2001–2005) (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[21] George P. Shultz , United States Secretary of Labor (1969–1970); Director of the Office of Management and Budget (1970–1972); United States Secretary of the Treasury (1972–1974); United States Secretary of State (1982–1989)[23] Louis Wade Sullivan , United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (1989–1993) (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[32] Christine Todd Whitman , Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (2001–2003); Governor of New Jersey (1994–2001) (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[33] Paul Wolfowitz , President of the World Bank Group (2005–2007); United States Deputy Secretary of Defense (2001–2005)[34] Robert Zoellick , President of the World Bank Group (2007–2012); U.S. Trade Representative (2001–2005); United States Deputy Secretary of State (2005–2006)[16]
Governors
Sitting
Ohio Governor John Kasich Charlie Baker , Massachusetts (2015–2023)[35] Robert J. Bentley ,[a] Alabama (2011–2017)[36] Dennis Daugaard ,[a] [b] South Dakota (2011–2019)[37] Bill Haslam , Tennessee (2011–2019)[38] Gary Herbert ,[a] Utah (2009–2021)[39] Larry Hogan , Maryland (2015–2023) (wrote in father Lawrence Hogan )[40] [41] John Kasich , Ohio (2011–2019)[42] Susana Martinez , New Mexico (2011–2019); Chair of the Republican Governors Association (2015–2016)[43] Bruce Rauner , Illinois (2015–2019)[44] [45] Brian Sandoval ,[a] Nevada (2011–2019)[46] Rick Snyder , Michigan (2011–2019)[47] [48]
Former
Former Massachusetts Governor and 2012 nominee for President Mitt Romney Actor and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Arne Carlson , Minnesota (1991–1999) (endorsed Hillary Clinton )[21] Jim Douglas , Vermont (2003–2011)[49] A. Linwood Holton Jr. , Virginia (1970–1974); Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs (1974–1975) (endorsed Hillary Clinton) (father in law of running mate Tim Kaine )[50] Jon Huntsman Jr. ,[a] [b] Governor of Utah (2005–2009); United States Ambassador to Russia (2017–2019); United States Ambassador to China (2009–2011); United States Ambassador to Singapore (1992–1993)[51] Gary Johnson , New Mexico (1995–2003) (2016 Libertarian nominee for president)[52] William Milliken , Michigan (1969–1983) (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[53] Kay A. Orr , Nebraska (1987–1991)[54] Tim Pawlenty ,[a] Minnesota (2003–2011)[55] [56] Al Quie , Minnesota (1979–1983)[57] Marc Racicot , Montana (1993–2001); Chair of the Republican National Committee (2001–2003)[58] Mitt Romney , Massachusetts (2003–2007), 2012 nominee for President (wrote in wife Ann Romney )[59] [60] Arnold Schwarzenegger , California (2003–2011)[61] Jane Swift , Massachusetts (2001–2003) (voted for Hillary Clinton )[62] Bill Weld , Massachusetts (1991–1997) (2016 Libertarian nominee for vice president)[63]
U.S. Senators
Arizona Senator and 2008 nominee for President John McCain
Sitting
Kelly Ayotte ,[c] Mike Pence )[64] Susan Collins , Maine (1997–present)[65] Paul Ryan )[66] Jeff Flake ,[b] [67] [68] Evan McMullin )[69] Cory Gardner ,[a] [b] Mike Pence )[70] Dean Heller , Nevada (2011–2019)[71] [72] Mike Lee ,[b] [73] [74] Mark Kirk ,[a] Colin Powell )[41] John McCain ,[a] [75] Lindsey Graham )[76] Lisa Murkowski ,[b] [77] Rob Portman ,[a] United States Trade Representative (2005–2006), Director of the Office of Management and Budget (2006–2007) (wrote in Mike Pence)[78] Ben Sasse , Nebraska (2015–2023)[24] [79] Dan Sullivan ,[a] [b] [80]
Former
Former Washington Senator Slade Gorton James Buckley , U.S. Senator from New York (1971–1977)[81] Norm Coleman , Minnesota (2003–2009)[82] David Durenberger , Minnesota (1978–1995) (endorsed Hillary Clinton )[21] Slade Gorton , Washington (1981–1987, 1989–2001) (endorsed Evan McMullin )[83] Phil Gramm , Texas (1985–2002)[84] Gordon J. Humphrey , New Hampshire (1979–1990) (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[85] [86] George LeMieux ,[b] [87] Olympia Snowe , Maine (1995–2013)[88] Paul Trible , Virginia (1983–1989)[89] John Warner , Virginia (1979–2009); United States Secretary of the Navy (1972–1974) (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[90]
U.S. Representatives
Michigan U.S. Representative Justin Amash Nevada U.S. Representative and 2016 nominee for U.S. Senate Joe Heck
Sitting
Justin Amash , Michigan (2011–2021) (wrote in Rand Paul )[91] [31] Jason Chaffetz ,[a] [92] [93] [94] [95] Mike Coffman , Colorado (2009–2019)[96] Barbara Comstock , Virginia (2015–2019)[97] Carlos Curbelo , Florida (2015–2019)[24] [98] Rodney Davis ,[a] [99] Charlie Dent ,[b] [100] [101] Bob Dold , Illinois (2011–2013, 2015–2017)[31] [102] Jeff Fortenberry ,[a] [99] Kay Granger ,[b] [103] Richard L. Hanna , New York (2011–2017) (endorsed Hillary Clinton )[104] [31] [105] Cresent Hardy ,[a] [106] Joe Heck ,[a] [106] Jaime Herrera Beutler , Washington (2011–2023) (wrote in Paul Ryan )[107] Will Hurd , Texas (2015–2021)[108] [109] David Jolly , Florida (2014–2017)[110] John Katko , New York (2015–2023)[111] Adam Kinzinger , Illinois (2011–2023)[112] Steve Knight , California (2015–2019)[113] Frank LoBiondo ,[a] Mike Pence )[114] Mia Love , Utah (2015–2019)[115] Pat Meehan ,[b] [114] Erik Paulsen ,[a] [116] Dave Reichert , Washington (2005–2019)[117] Reid Ribble , Wisconsin (2011–2017)[31] Scott Rigell , Virginia (2011–2017) (endorsed Gary Johnson )[24] Martha Roby ,[b] [118] [119] Tom Rooney ,[a] [99] Ileana Ros-Lehtinen , Florida (1989–2019)[31] Mike Simpson ,[a] [14] Fred Upton , Michigan (1987–2023)[120] David Valadao , California (2013–2019, 2021-present)[121] Ann Wagner ,[a] [122] [123]
Former
Steve Bartlett , Texas (1983–1991)[124] Bob Bauman , Maryland (1973–1981)[124] Sherwood Boehlert , New York (1993–2007) (endorsed Hillary Clinton )[125] Jack Buechner , Missouri (1987–1991)[124] Tom Campbell , California (1989–1993, 1995–2001) (endorsed Gary Johnson )[126] Bill Clinger , Pennsylvania (1979–1997)[124] Tom Coleman , Missouri (1976–1993)[124] Geoff Davis , Kentucky (2005–2012)[124] Charles Djou , Hawaii (2010–2011)[127] Mickey Edwards , Oklahoma (1977–1993)[124] David F. Emery , Maine (1975–1983)[128] Harris Fawell , Illinois (1985–1999)[124] Paul Findley , Illinois (1961–1983)[129] Ed Foreman , Texas (1963–1965, 1969–1971)[124] Barry Goldwater Jr. , California (1969–1983)[130] Amo Houghton , New York (1987–2005)[124] Bob Inglis , South Carolina (1993–1999, 2005–2011)[31] Jim Kolbe , Arizona (1985–2007) (endorsed Gary Johnson )Steve Kuykendall , California (1999–2001)[124] Jim Leach , Iowa (1977–2007)[124] Pete McCloskey , California (1967–1983)[124] Connie Morella , Maryland (1987–2003) (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[21] Mike Parker , Mississippi (1989–1999); Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (2001–2002)[124] Tom Petri , Wisconsin (1979–2015)[124] John Porter , Illinois (1980–2001)[124] Pat Saiki , Hawaii (1987–1991)[131] Joe Scarborough , Florida (1995–2001); commentator and author[132] Claudine Schneider , Rhode Island (1981–1991) (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[125] Chris Shays , Connecticut (1987–2009) (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[21] Peter Smith , Vermont (1989–1991)[124] Mark Souder , Indiana (1995–2010)[133] J.C. Watts , Oklahoma (1995–2003)[24] Edward Weber , Ohio (1981–1983)[124] Vin Weber , Minnesota (1983–1993)[134] [135] [136] [137] G. William Whitehurst , Virginia (1969–1987)[124] Dick Zimmer , New Jersey (1991–1997) (endorsed Gary Johnson )[138]
Former State Department officials
Richard Armitage , Deputy Secretary of State ; Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (endorsed Hillary Clinton )[139] John B. Bellinger III , Legal Adviser of the Department of State ; Legal Adviser to the National Security Council [16] Robert Blackwill , United States Ambassador to India ; Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Planning (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[16] [21] R. Nicholas Burns , Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs ; United States Ambassador to NATO ; United States Ambassador to Greece (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[140] Eliot A. Cohen , Counselor of the United States Department of State [16] [24] Chester Crocker , Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs [26] Jendayi Frazer , Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs [16] James K. Glassman , Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[26] David F. Gordon , Director of Policy Planning [16] Donald Gregg , United States Ambassador to South Korea [23] David A. Gross , U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[21] John Hillen , Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs [16] Reuben Jeffery III , Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment [16] Robert Joseph , Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs [26] David J. Kramer , Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor [16] Stephen D. Krasner , Director of Policy Planning [26] Frank Lavin , United States Ambassador to Singapore ; Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[21] Robert McCallum , United States Ambassador to Australia ; Acting United States Deputy Attorney General [16] Richard Miles , United States Ambassador to Azerbaijan , Bulgaria , and Georgia ; Acting United States Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan [26] Roger Noriega , Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs [26] John Osborn , Member of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy [26] Kristen Silverberg , Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs [16] William Howard Taft IV , Legal Adviser of the Department of State ; United States Ambassador to NATO ; United States Deputy Secretary of Defense [16] Shirin R. Tahir-Kheli , Senior Advisor for Women's Empowerment; Special Assistant to the President for Democracy, Human Rights and International Operations (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[16] [21] Betty Tamposi , Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[141] Peter Teeley , United States Ambassador to Canada (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[21] Robert Tuttle , United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[142] Philip Zelikow , Counselor of the United States Department of State [16]
Former Defense Department officials
Seth Cropsey , Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict & Interdependent Capabilities [26] Michael B. Donley , United States Secretary of the Air Force (endorsed Hillary Clinton )[21] Eric Edelman , Under Secretary of Defense for Policy [16] Doug Feith , Under Secretary of Defense for Policy [143] Robert Hastings , Acting Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs [26] Tim Kane , United States Air Force intelligence officer; Chief Labor Economist, Joint Economic Committee [26] Mary Beth Long , Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs [16] Alberto J. Mora , General Counsel of the Navy (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[21] Gale Pollock , Acting Surgeon General of the United States Army (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[21] Martha Rainville , Major General, United States Air Force ; Vermont Adjutant General [26] Michael Rubin , Defense Country Director for Iran and Iraq[26] Kalev Sepp , Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations Capabilities [26] Matthew Waxman , Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Detainee Affairs (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[14] [16] Dov Zakheim , Comptroller of the Department of Defense [16]
Former National Security officials
Ken Adelman , Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (endorsed Hillary Clinton )[14] [26] Mike Baker , covert operations officer, Central Intelligence Agency [26] Tom Donnelly , Director of the Policy Group, House Armed Services Committee [26] Gary Edson , Deputy National Security Advisor [16] Richard Falkenrath , Deputy Homeland Security Advisor [16] Peter Feaver , Senior Director for Strategic Planning[16] Aaron Friedberg , Deputy National Security Advisor to the Vice President[16] Greg Garcia , Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Cyber Security and Telecommunications[26] Michael Green , Senior Director for Asia, National Security Council [16] Paul Haenle , Director for China and Taiwan, National Security Council [16] Michael Hayden , Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (2006–2009)[16] William Inboden , Senior Director for Strategic Planning, National Security Council [16] James Jeffrey , Deputy National Security Advisor [16] James C. Langdon, Jr. , Chair of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board [16] Deborah Loewer , Director of the White House Situation Room (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[144] Evan McMullin , Operations officer, Central Intelligence Agency ; Senior Adviser for National Security, House Foreign Affairs Committee (Independent candidate for President)[145] [146] Paul D. Miller , Director for Afghanistan, National Security Council [26] Meghan O'Sullivan , Deputy National Security Advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan[16] Kori Schake , Director of Defense Strategy, National Security Council [16] Gary Schmitt , Executive Director of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board [26] David Shedd , Deputy Director of National Intelligence ; Acting Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency [26] Stephen Slick , Senior Director for Intelligence Programs, National Security Council [16] Frances Townsend , Homeland Security Advisor [26] Kenneth Wainstein , Homeland Security Advisor [16]
Other former federal government officials
Former Chief of Staff to the Vice President and founder of The Weekly Standard Bill Kristol Donald B. Ayer , United States Deputy Attorney General [16] Phillip D. Brady , White House Staff Secretary ; White House Cabinet Secretary (endorsed Hillary Clinton )[144] Paul K. Charlton , United States Attorney [147] Linda Chavez , Director of the Office of Public Liaison ; 1986 nominee for U.S. Senator from Maryland[31] Jim Cicconi , White House Staff Secretary (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[21] Scott Evertz , Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[21] Linda Fisher , Former Deputy EPA Administrator [148] Tony Fratto , Deputy White House Press Secretary[149] Charles Fried , United States Solicitor General ; Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[150] David K. Garman, Former Assistant Secretary and Under Secretary of Energy[148]
Fred T. Goldberg, Jr. , Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Tax Policy; Commissioner of Internal Revenue (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[21] Theodore Kassinger , United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce [16] Bill Kristol , Chief of Staff to the Vice President and founder of The Weekly Standard Evan McMullin )[151] Thomas Mallon , Deputy Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities [152] Rosario Marin , Treasurer of the United States (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[153] John McKay , former United States Attorney (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[154] Andrew Natsios , Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development ; Chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party [16] Daniel F. Runde , Director of the Global Development Alliance [26] Larry D. Thompson , United States Deputy Attorney General [16] Dan Webb , former United States Attorney (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[155] Peter Wehner , Director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives [14] Lezlee Westine , Director of the Office of Public Liaison (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[134] [156] Peter Zeidenberg , Assistant United States Attorney [147] Jeffrey Bobeck, former Bush 43 DOE Director of Communications, and 2016 DC Republican Delegate
State officials
Sitting
Former
Paul Anderson , Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court (1994–2013) (endorsed Hillary Clinton )[162] Greg Bell , Lieutenant Governor of Utah (2009–2013) (endorsed Evan McMullin )[163] Bob Brown , Secretary of State of Montana (2001–2005) (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[164] Tom Daxon , Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector (1979–1983), Chair of the Oklahoma Republican Party (2006–2008) (endorsed Gary Johnson )[165] Betty Montgomery , Attorney General of Ohio (1995–2003), Ohio State Auditor (2003–2007)[166] Sam Reed , Secretary of State of Washington (2000–2012) (endorsed Evan McMullin )[167] Mark Shurtleff , Attorney General of Utah (2001–2013) (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[168] Robert Smith , Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals (2004–2014) (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[169] Michael Steele , Lieutenant Governor of Maryland (2003–2007) and RNC Chair (2009–2011)[170] Diana Taylor , New York Superintendent of Banks (2003–2007) (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[171] Grant Woods , Attorney General of Arizona (1991–1999) (endorsed Hillary Clinton)[172]
State legislators
Sitting Rocky Chavez , California State Representative (2012–2018)Jack Ciattarelli ,[a] New Jersey State Representative (2011–2018)[159] Neal Collins , South Carolina State Representative (2014–present)[173] Kurt Daudt ,[b] Minnesota State Representative (2011–present), Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives (2015–2019)[55] David Holt , Oklahoma State Senator (2010–2018)[174] David Johnson , Iowa State Senator (2003–2019)[41] [175] Mark B. Madsen , Utah State Senator (2005–2017) (endorsed Gary Johnson )[176] Chad Mayes , California State Assembly Minority Leader (2014–2017)Charisse Millett ,[a] Alaska State Representative (2009–2019), Majority Leader (2015–2016)[177] [178] Ross Spano , Florida State Representative (2012–2018)[110] Joe Sweeney ,[a] New Hampshire State Representative (2012–present)[179] Jim Durkin , Illinois House Republican Leader (1996–2003; 2006–present)[180] Former
Municipal officials
Demographics
Research on the Never Trump movement shows that Mormon and female Republicans were the most likely groups to oppose Trump's candidacy while non-Mormon and male Republicans were the most supportive.[276] [277]
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