A centrist House Republican says he won't vote for Donald Trump
Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's claim former presidents wanted to build wall: 'Come on' Trump seizes on ex-NYT editor Jill Abramson's criticism of paper GOP strategist Ed Rollins refers to Ocasio-Cortez as 'the little girl' MORE or Texas Sen. Ted Cruz
Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzPompeo seen as top recruit for Kansas Senate seat Overnight Defense: Appeals court sides with Trump on transgender military ban | Trump threatens years-long shutdown | Trump floats declaring national emergency to build wall with military O’Rourke signals support for ‘concept’ of Green New Deal MORE in the November presidential election if either candidate becomes his party’s nominee.
When asked Tuesday by a local radio station whether he would support either man in the general election, Rep. Richard Hanna (R-N.Y.) laughed before replying, “I’m going to say this without equivocation: No.”
Hanna, who is retiring after the end of this year, has previously said he would never support Trump. But he’s not joining other establishment-minded Republicans — like Sen. Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin GrahamOvernight Defense: Appeals court sides with Trump on transgender military ban | Trump threatens years-long shutdown | Trump floats declaring national emergency to build wall with military House Budget chair: Border funding in exchange for Dreamers' protections 'an easy deal to make' Learning from Trump's Syria debacle MORE (R-S.C.) or 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney — in turning to Cruz as an alternative to Trump.
“Ted Cruz shut down the government. That’s his one accomplishment,” Hanna told WRVO, in reference to the 16-day shutdown in 2013.
“Do you really want these two men, one [Cruz] who said he would turn the Middle East to glass or another [Trump] who thinks it's even rational to try to deport 11 million people, to build a wall and make the Mexicans pay for it?” Hanna added. "Ted Cruz wants to patrol Muslim neighborhoods. That's downright Orwellian and ridiculous on its face."
Hanna said his party seems unrecognizable in this year’s presidential primary campaign.
“This is going to offend some people, but you’re watching the requiem of a political party. This party used to be the party of common-sense fiscal conservatism. It’s become, I think, ideologically strangled, that it has become a victim of its own extremes,” Hanna said.
Yet Hanna was noncommittal about instead supporting Ohio Gov. John Kasich, the only other remaining GOP candidate, in New York’s April 19 primary. Hanna has so far not endorsed any candidate.
“Of the people that are there, he’s most reasonable, thoughtful. I think he’s tried to be a gentleman through this, and clearly others have not,” Hanna said of Kasich.
When asked whether he would sit out the election if Trump or Cruz were the nominee, Hanna said he’s still waiting for an alternative.
“I’m going to watch, read, try to understand and wait for — I’m not going to speculate,” he said.
A handful of other centrist Republicans have also said they will never back Trump, including Reps. Bob Dold (Ill.) and Carlos Curbelo (Fla.), along with fellow retiring lawmakers such as Reps. Scott Rigell
Edward (Scott) Scott RigellGOP rushes to embrace Trump GOP lawmaker appears in Gary Johnson ad Some in GOP say Trump has gone too far MORE (Va.) and Reid Ribble
Reid James RibbleSetting the record straight about No Labels With Trump, conservatives hope for ally in 'War on Christmas' GOP rushes to embrace Trump MORE (Wis.).
Curbelo, who previously endorsed former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Sen. Marco Rubio
Marco Antonio RubioHillicon Valley: Marriott cuts breach estimates, but says millions of passports exposed | Los Angeles sues Weather Channel app over data collection | Bill would create office to fight Chinese threats to US tech | German politicians hit by major breach Senate poised to rebut Trump on Syria Bipartisan bill proposes new White House office to fight Chinese technology threats MORE (Fla.) before they both dropped out, last week said he wouldn’t rule out voting for Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonPompeo seen as top recruit for Kansas Senate seat Warren hires former digital strategist for Obama campaigns: report Clinton meets individually with potential 2020 Dems: report MORE over Trump.