Republican Mayor Endorses Kamala Harris With Ominous Warning: ‘I Will Hold Fast to What Is Good’

Oklahoma City’s Republican Mayor David Holt endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president this week in a scathing takedown of Donald Trump published in the Philadelphia Citizen.

Holt opened his op-ed with a quote from the bible, “‘Hold fast to what is good.’ — 1 Thessalonians 5:21.” He then went on to recall his long history in Republican politics, having first voted for George W. Bush and later working in his White House.

Holt goes on to argue that while he remains a Republican on policy he can’t support Trump based on character. “During this time period of my adult life that I am describing — across four presidential elections — I viewed policy as the differentiator between candidates. Issues like a strong national defense, limited and competent government, fiscal responsibility, personal freedom, and a free-market capitalist economy all weighed heavily on my vote. It is only in 2016, 2020 and 2024 that I have been forced to recognize that there are criteria inherently more important, criteria that I took for granted. These criteria could be thought of as the three Cs: CHARACTER, COMPETENCE and COMMITMENT to our form of government,” Holt wrote, adding:

The three Cs represent virtues, not policy positions. It is highly unlikely that the nominees of the two major political parties are going to hold the same policy positions, but it is entirely possible that they possess almost identical virtues. In fact, I realize now in retrospect that for the first four presidential elections of my adult life, I thought very little about these virtues. I simply took for granted that both leading candidates possessed them.

He goes on to discuss the importance of each of the “three Cs” and argues that Americans take them “for granted” in their president at our collective peril.

“I took for granted that both leading candidates held a firm commitment to the U.S. Constitution. I could not have imagined a world where any leading candidate would have ever publicly called for the Constitution’s termination,” Holt argued, referring to Trump’s Truth Social post calling to “terminate” parts of the Constitution. He added:

I took for granted that both leading candidates respected the democratic process and term limits. I took for granted that both leading candidates would accept a loss, graciously congratulate the victor, and if necessary, peacefully transfer power.

I took for granted that both leading candidates respected our military, would fulfill their role in our national defense and their obligation to guard confidential information they might have access to. I took for granted that both leading candidates valued our veterans and held most sacred our obligation to those who were captured or killed. I took for granted that both leading candidates would understand the vital role played by the press, and though differences were to be expected, I took for granted that all candidates would treat members of the press with respect.

I took for granted that both leading candidates respected the rule of law and deeply understood the concept that no president is above the law, and how that fact is fundamental to our unique national story. For the first four presidential elections of my adult life, I took these virtues for granted. I have not had that luxury since.

Holt concluded by referring back to the Biblical quote he opened with, “Perhaps you are like me and you look forward to the day when we can again look beyond the three Cs and consider policy as our presidential differentiator. We should all work towards that day. But that day is not November 5, 2024. On that day, I will hold fast to what is good. On that day, I will vote for virtue.”

Read the full article here.