Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Duncan: GOP could 'start hemorrhaging to Democrats' if Trump wins

Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan (R) said many Republicans are shying away from the party as former President Trump continues to “soil the brand,” which may encourage them to start “hemorrhaging to Democrats.”

“If Donald Trump wins, there‘s no doubt he‘ll wreck the car and continue to soil the brand of being a Republican. And so I think you‘re going to watch entire herds of Republicans look for somewhere else that‘s more respectable,” Duncan said Tuesday during an appearance on CNN. “That could mean we could start hemorrhaging to Democrats by the droves.”

He noted that Vice President Harris, if elected, has a chance to grow the scope of the Democratic Party as dissatisfied GOP members look for other avenues.

“If Kamala Harris wins and actually does govern towards the middle, she has a chance to grow the net total of the party, if she does govern towards the middle — not in the middle, she‘s a Democrat,” he said.

“But if she governs towards the middle, like she did on the campaign trail and ask our opinion on certain policy, then I think she has a chance to grow the party."

Harris has said that she would appoint a Republican to serve in her Cabinet and consult party members often for advice in August.

“I think it’s important to have people at the table — when some of the most important decisions are being made — that have different views, different experiences,” Harris said during an interview with CNN. “And I think it would be to the benefit of the American public to have a member of my Cabinet who was a Republican.”

Harris has had to address backlash from critical comments made by President Biden and campaign surrogate Mark Cuban about Trump supporters in recent weeks.

“First of all, he clarified his comments, but let me be clear: I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for,” Harris told reporters last Wednesday about Biden's remarks.

“I believe that the work I do is about representing all the people, whether they support me or not,” Harris added. “And as president of the United States, I will be a president for all Americans whether you vote for me or not.”

Harris and Trump are currently neck and neck for the presidency, according to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ’s aggregate of polls.