Jon Evans -- Romney Alum

Why he is supporting Harris-Walz in 2024

Like many whose voices have been elevated over recent weeks, I write not as a career political operative, but as a proud American.   

There is a reckoning that comes to all who dare to consider what it truly means to be an American. A quiet, potent examination—what do you value most?   

Not what is easy. Not what is familiar. But what is necessary.   

For years, I worked tirelessly in the trenches of Republican politics. I’ve witnessed the power of conviction and the strength of a united front. Today, we face a choice that requires courage and clarity—a choice that transcends party lines. Donald Trump represents a clear and present danger to the very fabric of our democracy.   

The heart of this nation, fragile and pulsing beneath centuries of history, asks that we look deeply, not at our differences but at what binds us. It is here, in this solemn place of reflection, that I ask my Republican friends to consider Kamala Harris, not as a figure of party, but as a figure of possibility.   

Last week I attended an event with the Vice President in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, on the banks of the Delaware River, where she brought together Republican leaders not far from the site where General George Washington crossed in the frigid dark during the American Revolution nearly 250 years ago. She invoked the currents of history—the bravery, the boldness, the unyielding spirit that moves this country forward. She spoke of an America that belongs to all of us, where freedom is not a favor bestowed but a right earned through struggle and sacrifice. In her voice, we heard a familiar cadence—the call to remember who we are and who we have always been at our best.   

Kamala Harris, like so many great leaders, has been shaped by the breadth and depth of the American experience. She speaks to the grace that is required in leadership, to be both strong and compassionate, resolute and understanding.   

When we vote, we are not just choosing a leader. We are choosing the direction of this great nation. In Kamala Harris, we find a champion for that vision who understands that to move forward, we must do so together. She knows that America’s strength lies in the diversity of its people, and she stands ready to lift every voice, whether it whispers or shouts.   

This is a time for courage. It is a time to choose not out of habit or heritage, but out of hope. The choice to vote for Kamala Harris is not a rejection of what you have known, but an embrace of what this country can become. It is a vote not for party, but for country—for a country where freedom is not bartered in back rooms, but lived on the streets, in homes, in schools, in hearts.   

Kamala Harris realizes the weight of the office she seeks. She recognizes the fractured foundation to which we must tend, and she offers the kind of leadership that acknowledges the power of inclusion and the necessity of empathy. She aims not toward narrow promises of partisanship, but the expansive vision of an America where every voice is heard.   

To my Republican brothers and sisters, I say: This moment is a clarion call that will define who we are. America’s capacity for greatness is only as strong as our resolve to defend our shared ideals—freedom, justice, equality, honesty, and integrity. Kamala Harris reminds us that these ideals transcend political divides, that they belong not to Democrats or Republicans, but to every American.   

For some, choosing the side of history that speaks to our better angels may feel like a concession, but I ask you, what is more important—the label we wear or the country we cherish? Kamala Harris is not just a candidate for president of the United States; she is a symbol of the future we can build together. In Vice President Harris and Governor Tim Walz, we clearly see the leaders we need for this moment, for this nation, and for our future.   

On November 5th, I ask you to choose country. I ask you to choose possibility. I ask you to choose Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

Jon Evans is the former Deputy Director of Content for Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign. He has led digital public relations and communications efforts for numerous candidates for federal and state office, elected officials, and advocacy organizations across America.