David French’s Bold Endorsement: Why a Conservative Is Backing Kamala Harris to “Save Conservatism”

In a surprising op-ed published in The New York Times, political commentator and columnist David French endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential election. French, a self-identified conservative with a focus on the health of the evangelical church, laid out his rationale for why he believes other conservatives should join him in supporting Harris — an endorsement he argues is crucial to “saving conservatism” from what he sees as the corrosive influence of former President Donald Trump.

French, a staunch pro-lifer who supported the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court Dobbs decision, made it clear that his decision to endorse Harris is not about abandoning conservative principles. Instead, it is a reaction to what he describes as the Republican Party’s drift away from “Reaganite conservatism” under Trump’s leadership. French criticizes Trump’s impact on the party, claiming that the former president has infused it with a culture of “cruelty” and dishonesty that is antithetical to conservative values. “I’m going to vote for Kamala Harris in 2024 and — ironically enough — I’m doing it in part to try to save conservatism,” French wrote, making a case that Trump’s approach to politics is incompatible with the moral and ethical standards that conservatives, especially those of faith, should uphold.

In his op-ed, French did not shy away from addressing the controversies surrounding Trump, particularly his alleged dishonesty and the political violence he believes Trump has incited. French condemned the former president’s continued promotion of false claims about the 2020 election and his apparent support for the January 6th Capitol riot participants, highlighting how these actions undermine the integrity of the Republican Party. He also criticized the recent Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, pointing to speakers whose records he finds morally questionable, and questioning how Christians can align themselves with a party that allows such figures to take the stage. French’s endorsement of Harris, though unexpected, reflects his deep concern for the future of conservatism and his belief that the movement can only be preserved by rejecting the extremes embodied by Trump.