SEATTLE – Chris Vance, the Republican challenger for Sen. Patty Murray’s U.S. Senate seat this November, says he will not vote for Donald Trump.
“In November I will either vote for a third party candidate, if a responsible conservative alternative emerges, or simply not vote for president,” wrote Vance in a statement Thursday.
Vance said he normally doesn’t comment on the presidential nomination, but is doing so because voters want to know who candidates support.
“It’s clear the dysfunction in Washington DC has spread to our political system,” Vance wrote.” Our two major parties are on the verge of nominating Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump – two candidates the majority of Americans do not approve of.”
Related: State GOP Party calls for unity met with resistance
“But Donald Trump is not the answer. His economic policies – such as they are – would drive our debt even higher, and destroy jobs. And his views on defense and foreign policy are naïve and dangerous,” Vance wrote.
Vance says he will vote for Gov. John Kasich in the primary even though Kasich suspended his campaign Wednesday.
“This is a difficult and unprecedented time for our party, and I take no joy in not supporting the presumptive Republican nominee, but I must place conscience and principle ahead of party,” wrote Vance, who added he will remain focused on his senate campaign and not the presidential race.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Bryant has not yet responded to KING 5’s requests for comment on whether he’ll support Donald Trump.
Vance joins a growing list of Republican insiders and candidates who are vowing not to support Trump. Former presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush also revealed they have no plans to play a role in this year’s presidential race.
Copyright 2016 KING