Erick Erickson, #NeverTrump Leader, Endorses Donald Trump in 2020
“We cannot have the Trump Administration policies without President Trump and there is much to like,” Erickson says while explaining his decision
Jon Levine | February 11, 2019 @ 1:45 PM
Last Updated: February 11, 2019 @ 1:47 PM
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Erick Erickson, one of the original leaders of the #NeverTrump movement, officially threw his weight behind Donald Trump in the 2020 election, formally endorsing him in a column for his website The Resurgent on Monday.
“Some of my concerns about President Trump remain. I still struggle on the character issue and I understand Christian friends who would rather sit it out than get involved,” Erickson wrote. “But I also recognize that we cannot have the Trump Administration policies without President Trump and there is much to like.”
“In 2016, we knew who the Democrats were and were not sure of who Donald Trump was. Now we know both and I prefer this President to the alternative,” he added.
The endorsement is notable given that Erickson was one of Donald Trump’s most steadfast opponents during the 2015-2016 GOP primary and is credited with creating the #NeverTrump hashtag back in 2016.
In 2015, while serving as editor-in-chief of the conservative blog RedState, Erickson publicly uninvited Trump from attending his influential RedState Gathering in Atlanta. The decision came after Trump appeared to imply that tough questions from Megyn Kelly during the first GOP debate had been because the anchor was menstruating.
“Also, not only is Erick a total loser, he has a history of supporting establishment losers in failed campaigns so it is an honor to be uninvited from his event,” Team Trump said in a statement at the time reacting to Erickson’s decision “Mr. Trump is an outsider and does not fit his agenda.”
Erickson later left RedState in October, 2015 and went on to found his current venture The Resurgent in January, 2016. He is also a frequent presence on cable news where he vigorously defends conservative positions on issues.
The turnabout raised a few eyebrows among veteran reporters who remembered Erickson’s former ferocious antipathy toward the billionaire.
“‘Many of my center-right friends who, like me, continue to have concerns with this Administration, are driven in part by the bad reporting on this Administration,’ Erickson writes as he completes his 180 on Trump,” The Atlantic’s McKay Coppins said in a tweet.
“‘In a post on his website in Feb 2016, Erickson wrote: “As we have seen so far, those who are deluding themselves thinking that if they support Trump, he will support them, will instead find themselves slowly compromised on both their integrity and values';” added Yashar Ali, sharing the original Erickson line in a quote tweet.
2020 Presidential Contenders: Everyone Who's Challenging Donald Trump So Far (Photos)
There are still over 20 months to go until the 2020 presidential election, but the competition to *maybe* replace Donald Trump in the White House is already stiff.
The list already includes senators Joe Birden, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand, former Obama cabinet member Julián Castro and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. And that's just people who have officially declared -- some high profile politicians and wannabes are teasing runs too. It's a lot to keep track of, but we're here to help. Here's TheWrap's list of everyone who has announced they are running for president so far.
Joe Biden - Democratic Party
The former Obama VP was a late entry to the race, formally declaring his run for the presidency on April 25. But he's long been a presumed frontrunner, leading many early polls. This is third presidential run, and for months he's been telling anyone who'll listen that he'd be the most qualified candidate for the job. He's also already been under scrutiny over criticism about his behavior with women, prompting him to post a video promising he'd be "more mindful and respectful" of a woman's "personal space."
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Beto O'Rourke - Democratic Party
The former congressman from El Paso, Texas, announced he is running for president on March 14, saying: "This is a defining moment of truth for this country and for every single one of us," and that the challenges have never been greater. "They will either consume us, or they will afford us the greatest opportunity to unleash the genius of the United States of America," he added. O'Rourke has already made a name for himself as a record-breaking fundraiser, the subject of an HBO documentary and a favorite among Hollywood elite.
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Bernie Sanders Democratic Party
Bernie Sanders, the runner-up in the 2016 contest for the Democratic nomination, has recorded a campaign video in which he says he is running for president in 2020, according to a report in Politico.
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Elizabeth Warren - Democratic Party
The Massachusetts Senator formally announced her candidacy on Feb. 9 at a rally in her home state, and shortly after followed up with a tweet that read: "I believe in an America of opportunity. My daddy ended up as a janitor, but his little girl got the chance to be a public school teacher, a college professor, a United States Senator – and a candidate for President of the United States. #Warren2020."
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Tulsi Gabbard - Democratic Party
Gabbard, a U.S. Representative for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district, endorsed Bernie Sanders in 2016, but in 2020 she's all-in on herself. She told CNN's Van Jones on Jan. 12 that she intends to run, and would make "a formal announcement within the next week." That announcement hasn't happened yet, but her Twitter account is bedecked with campaign branding.
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Julián Castro - Democratic Party
The former mayor of San Antonio -- and former Obama cabinet member -- entered the presidential race on Jan. 12.
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Kirsten Gillibrand - Democratic Party
The Senator from New York announced her bid Tuesday, Jan. 15 on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert."
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Kamala Harris - Democratic Party
The California senator announced her bid for the presidency on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 21, while appearing on ABC’s "Good Morning America." As a possible indication of her chances, her recent CNN town hall was the network's highest rated single presidential candidate town hall ever.
The New Jersey senator and former mayor of Newark formally tossed his name into the presidential hat on Feb. 1, the first day of Black History Month.
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Marianne Williamson - Democratic Party
The "Healing the Soul of America" author and founder of Project Angel Food announced her candidacy during a political rally at the Saban Theater in Los Angeles on Jan. 28.
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Andrew Yang - Democratic Party
The entrepreneur and son of immigrant parents from Taiwan became a contender a year ago, telling The New York Times that he will advocate for a universal basic income.
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John Delaney - - Democratic Party
The U.S. Representative for Maryland's 6th district declared back in July 2017. He says he'll "end reckless trade wars and expand trade," "create a universal health care system" and "launch a national AI strategy."
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Amy Klobuchar - Democratic Party
The Minnesota Democrat, first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006, announced her bid on Feb. 10, 2019, saying that she wanted to work for "everyone who wanted their work recognized."
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Honorable Mention: Howard Schultz - Independent
Like Biden, the former Starbucks CEO hasn't formally declared, but he's teased a possible run as an independent on the book tour for his autobiography. Given widespread fears that a third party candidate could help ensure a Trump victory, so far Schultz's hypothetical candidacy isn't going over well, according to a recent poll.
Schultz is a co-founder of the venture capital firm Maveron, which is an investor in TheWrap.
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The crop of candidates already includes Joe Biden, Beto O’Rourke, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris and more
There are still over 20 months to go until the 2020 presidential election, but the competition to *maybe* replace Donald Trump in the White House is already stiff.
The list already includes senators Joe Birden, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand, former Obama cabinet member Julián Castro and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. And that's just people who have officially declared -- some high profile politicians and wannabes are teasing runs too. It's a lot to keep track of, but we're here to help. Here's TheWrap's list of everyone who has announced they are running for president so far.
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