Former AZ Sen. Jeff Flake Among Republicans Endorsing Biden

ARIZONA — Former Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake has joined dozens of other Republicans in endorsing former Vice President Joe Biden, a Democrat, for the presidency. The news comes on the first day of the 2020 Republican National Convention, where President Donald Trump will accept his party's nomination once again.

The "Republicans for Biden" movement launched Monday in an effort to support Biden's run for the presidency. Former Arizona Rep. Jim Kolbe also counts himself a member of the group, which boasts approximately two dozen members.

Flake is a well-known critic of Trump's, coming out against him in a Washington Post op-ed in the past. Flake decided not to seek re-election in 2017 after several clashes with the president during his time in Congress. He had announced he wouldn't be voting for Trump some time ago but never formally endorsed Biden until now.

The group's members also include former Republican Sens. Gordon Humphrey of New Hampshire and John Warner of Virginia, as well as a long list of former congressmen and women. The “Republicans for Biden” effort is part of the campaign's strategy to capture Republicans' votes heading into November. The effort was given a platform during the 2020 Democratic National Convention, where several high-profile Republicans — like former Ohio Gov. John Kasich — spoke in support of the Democratic challenger.

The Biden campaign has called this Republican support a "strong rebuke" of the president.

Trump is expected to speak each of the four nights of the RNC and has indicated he will rebut claims made on the stage during the DNC, particularly about his handling of the coronavirus. Arizona Sen. Martha McSally, who is in a difficult run for re-election against retired astronaut Mark Kelly, is also expected to speak.