Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., became the latest federal lawmaker Tuesday to announce that he will not support presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump in November.
In a statement, Kirk said that in the wake of Trump’s recent attacks on Judge Gonzalo Curiel — who is presiding over the Trump University case — for his Mexican heritage, he “cannot and will not support” Trump no matter the political implications for himself and the GOP.
Kirk became the first Republican up for re-election this fall to make this call, and joins Sens. Ben Sasse, Lindsey Graham and Mike Lee to not back Trump in the fall.
“I have spent my life building bridges and tearing down barriers — not building walls,” Kirk said in the statement. “That’s why I find Donald Trump’s belief that an American-born judge of Mexican descent is incapable of fairly presiding over his case is not only dead wrong, it is un-American.”
“As the presidential campaign progressed, I was hoping the rhetoric would tone down and reflect a campaign that was inclusive, thoughtful and principled,” Kirk continued.
“While I oppose the Democratic nominee, Donald Trump’s latest statements, in contest with past attacks on Hispanics, women and the disabled like me, make it certain that I cannot and will not support my party’s nominee for president regardless of the political impact on my candidacy or the Republican Party.”
It is absolutely essential that we are guided by a commander in chief with a responsible and proper temperament, discretion and judgment. Our president must be fit to command the most powerful military the world has ever seen, including an arsenal of thousands of nuclear weapons. After much consideration, I have concluded that Donald Trump has not demonstrated the temperament necessary to assume the greatest office in the world.”
This marks a reversal for Kirk, who previously announced that he would support Trump if he were indeed the GOP nominee.
Kirk is one of the most vulnerable senators up for reelection and will face off with Rep. Tammy Duckworth in the fall. He is perhaps best known for winning President Obama’s seat in 2010 as part of the GOP wave.
