Former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney, known for his long-standing association with the GOP, surprisingly announced his endorsement of Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris at The Texas Tribune Festival held in Austin on Friday. Cheney's endorsement came as his daughter, former U.S. Representative Liz Cheney, also made her own endorsement by supporting Democrat Colin Allred in his bid to defeat Republican Senator Ted Cruz.

During the one-on-one conversation with The Atlantic's staff writer Mark Leibovich, Liz Cheney revealed her father's unexpected endorsement, highlighting the severity of the current political moment and referring to Donald Trump as a grave threat to democracy. Cheney expressed her father's belief that no individual in the country has posed as significant a threat to democracy as Trump. Cheney's endorsement of Harris earlier in the week at Duke University further solidified her stance as a vocal critic of Trump, especially in the aftermath of the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Since losing her House seat, Liz Cheney has actively worked to combat election denialism within the Republican Party, even supporting candidates from the opposing party when necessary. She emphasized the importance of electing serious and dedicated individuals to rebuild American politics, citing the need for candidates who will serve in good faith. Cheney seized the opportunity to endorse Allred, recalling her brief collaboration with him during their time in Congress.

Allred, upon receiving Liz Cheney's endorsement, expressed his gratitude and labeled her as a patriot who consistently prioritizes the country over political party, recognizing the significance of safeguarding democracy. He pledged to work across party lines in the Senate to contribute to the betterment of Texas.

In contrast to Cheney's endorsements, Senator Ted Cruz, who played a prominent role in attempting to overturn the 2020 election results, did not receive any mention of support from either Cheney or her father during the festival.

The Texas Tribune Festival, a highly anticipated event that bridges the gap between Texas politics, policy, and current news, provided a platform for the announcement and sparked applause from the audience in response to Cheney's endorsements.

While Cruz's campaign and a representative for Dick Cheney have not yet responded to requests for comment, the unexpected endorsements from the Cheney family are likely to reverberate through the political landscape, further reshaping alliances in the upcoming Texas elections.

The Texas Tribune Festival remains committed to bringing Texans closer to the political discourse, policy discussions, and breaking news both within the state and beyond. Recordings of festival events can be accessed on-demand on the Tribune's Festival news page.

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