(NewsNation) — In 2016, they became known as the “Never Trumpers.” These days, conservatives who consider themselves “political orphans” have organized a group called Principles First.
But, at their meeting during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, some of those leading the 2016 movement acknowledged that “Never Trump” is dead.
“I don’t think I’m being negative when I say that the defeat of ‘Never Trump’ Republicans feels complete at the moment,” said veteran conservative talk show host Charlie Sykes.
Sykes was among several former or “excommunicated” Republicans who gathered in Milwaukee. He was joined on a panel by former Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh, attorney George Conway and former Republican Party chair Michael Steele.
“The Republican Party is sick, okay — it has been led astray by populist demagogues and it has abandoned its principles,” said Heath Mayo, president and founder of Principles First.
Mayo shared what he believes the current Republican party’s recurring theme during its convention: “That there are certain Americans out there — whether it’s based on their race, their religion, their job or their occupation, who are real Americans,” while others for the same reason are “not quite real Americans.”
Among others attending the event were latecomers to the anti-Trump movement, like Amanda Stewart Sprowls, who worked on behalf of Nikki Haley’s campaign. Sprowls said she voted for Trump twice, but no more.
“Is he trustworthy? No. Is he honorable? No. Will he pay his contractors? Well, no, right? There is no surprise in any of that,” she said. “And I think that as women … and as Haley voters, I think a lot of us understood that we just want better,” she said in a panel discussion.
Others came to the movement from the other side of the political spectrum.
Kendal Unruh, an evangelical Christian from Colorado, said she opposes Trump but worked on the 2016 GOP platform to make sure it included strong anti-abortion language. She blasted the party for softening that language in this year’s platform to conform to Trump’s position that states should decide their abortion policies.
While she opposes Trump, Unruh is among many who said they won’t vote for President Joe Biden in November, as Steele has said he will do.
“I know it’s a lift. But you know what? Joe Biden could be in his underwear sitting in the corner drooling with COVID and I’d still vote for him,” Steele told the crowd.
Sykes went a bit further: “There are people in this room who have been lifelong conservatives, who are still lifelong conservatives, and yet in November might find themselves voting for Kamala Harris. (That) would’ve been inconceivable a few years ago, but is a reflection of the times we’re in.”