Andrew Yang, a businessman and former presidential candidate, is offering some unconventional advice to the Democrats as they approach their upcoming convention. On August 7, he suggested on social media that inviting Republican figures like Mitt Romney, Lisa Murkowski, and Chris Christie to speak at the event could be beneficial.
In a series of posts, Yang emphasized that widening the anti-Trump coalition would be the primary goal, pushing for an inclusive atmosphere at the convention.
If I’m the Democrats I invite Mitt Romney, Lisa Murkowski and Chris Christie to speak at the convention.
— Andrew Yang🧢⬆️🇺🇸 (@AndrewYang) August 7, 2024
This suggestion is a break from tradition, as political conventions typically focus on party members and supporters. Notably, the Harris campaign has been actively trying to attract anti-Trump Republicans, launching the “Republicans for Harris” initiative and gaining support from figures like Joe Walsh and John Giles.
All three suggested by Yang—Romney, Murkowski, and Christie—have publicly criticized Trump, despite their Republican affiliation. Romney has stated he would “absolutely not” vote for Trump and believes Trump has shown more respect for Putin than deserved. Murkowski has voiced concerns about the party becoming Trump-centric and hasn’t ruled out leaving it. Similarly, Christie has labeled Trump as “wholly unfit” for the presidency.
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Yang’s list also includes loud Trump critics such as former Representative Liz Cheney and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well as non-political figures like Matthew McConaughey and Mark Cuban.
The Democratic National Convention is scheduled to take place in Chicago from August 19 to 22, aiming to officially confirm Kamala Harris as the party’s presidential nominee after Joe Biden’s exit from the race on July 21.