Alleged ‘Republicans for Kamala’ Group Linked to Harris Campaign, New Audio Reveals
In 2020, then-President Donald Trump faced opposition from a small group of Republicans who joined forces with The Lincoln Project to back his Democratic rival, Joe Biden. Now, as the 2024 campaign heats up, a new group called “Republicans For Kamala” has surfaced, seemingly opposing Trump’s return. However, recent revelations suggest that this organization may be tied directly to Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign.
On Friday, The Maine Wire, a conservative publication, released an undercover audio recording that has sparked controversy. The recording captures a conversation between a “citizen journalist” using the pseudonym “Tim Dillon” and Peter Mills, the former executive director of the Maine Turnpike Authority and brother of Democratic Governor Janet Mills.
Mills, a registered Democrat and reportedly involved with the group, showed an interest in its activities. In the conversation, he directed “Dillon” to Amy Cookson, a staffer for Kamala Harris’s campaign, according to the audio. Notably, Cookson’s email address ends with “@kamalaharris.com,” suggesting a formal connection to the campaign.
“I think she’s a paid worker,” Mills remarked. “I think that’s her job here… she has an organization called ‘Republicans for Harris.’” Mills described Cookson as the main representative of the group, hinting at a national structure coordinated by the Harris campaign.
“They’re really anxious to find Republicans who are disillusioned with Trump,” Mills continued. He pointed specifically to voters in Maine’s Second Congressional District, a more rural and conservative area, suggesting that public statements from these Republicans could have a significant impact.
Adding to the intrigue, an email from Cookson highlighted media efforts targeting Maine, raising suspicions about the authenticity of the “Republicans for Harris” group. According to the Maine Wire, the group seems to consist of paid lobbyists, registered Democrats, and Republican ex-politicians known for their criticism of other Republicans. The group allegedly includes unaffiliated lobbyist Tony Payne and former state Sen. Roger Katz, a Republican who often criticized Maine’s former Republican Governor, Paul LePage.
A commentary in The Western Journal weighed in on the unfolding story, suggesting that Mills’ comments indicate that “Republicans for Harris” is essentially an astroturfed initiative—an artificial grassroots effort designed to appear as though it’s driven by everyday Republicans, when it’s likely a creation of the Harris campaign.
Critics have pointed out that, unlike The Lincoln Project, which was transparently anti-Trump and independent, this group appears to be intertwined with the Harris campaign, leading some to question its legitimacy. As the Western Journal put it, “At least those people [in The Lincoln Project] didn’t have email addresses ending in ‘@joebiden.com.’”
Adding to the political drama, a side-by-side video surfaced over the weekend showing Vice President Kamala Harris allegedly “adopting” one of Trump’s key campaign promises. In the video, Trump can be heard discussing his plan to eliminate taxes on tips—a proposal gaining traction among service industry workers. Harris is then seen making a similar promise, leading some to accuse her of co-opting Trump’s platform.
As the 2024 election approaches, this latest controversy adds fuel to an already heated political landscape. Whether “Republicans for Kamala” proves to be a genuine movement or a campaign strategy remains to be seen, but for now, it’s raising eyebrows across the political spectrum.