Former Senator Pat Toomey (Republican), who represented the key state of Pennsylvania in the Senate for 12 years, has said he will not vote for either former President Trump or Vice President Harris in this fall's election.
In an interview with CNBC, Toomey said he voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020, but that he could not support him again because of Trump's efforts to overturn the results of the last presidential election.
“If he loses the election and then tries to overturn the election results to stay in power, then I'm out. I'm out at that point,” Toomey said during a heated exchange with “Squawk Box” host Joe Kernen.
Toomey acknowledged that he does not support Democratic candidate Harris and believes many of her policies would be economically disastrous.
Toomey, who retires from the Senate at the end of 2022, was one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial on a charge of inciting insurrection against the United States.
Curnen questioned Toomey, a longtime fiscal conservative, about elements of Harris' economic plan, which includes raising the corporate tax rate to 28% and capital gains tax rate to 45% on the nation's highest earners.
When Kernen argued that not voting for Trump would essentially be a vote in favor of Harris, Toomey said, “I recognize that the outcome is a binary situation, but that's not my choice.”
“It's an acceptable position for me to say that neither candidate is suitable for me to be a candidate for president,” Toomey said.
He also argued that it would be “essential” for Republicans to control the Senate to restrain Harris if elected president.
“The answer is Republicans need to control the Senate, which is an absolute necessity,” he said of the possibility that Harris would propose big tax hikes as president.
“If they win by a landslide, Katie will close the door. They will abolish the filibuster and will be dragged along by the left, who is clearly in control now. I think Kamala Harris proved that with her selection as her running mate,” he warned, referring to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
He predicted that if elected president, Harris would push for “huge tax increases” and “some form of universal health care.”
“The good news is Republicans are going to control the Senate,” he said.
And he argued that Senate Republicans could “mitigate” any future executive orders by Harris “through their confirmation power.”
“They're going to have to get tough on some of these nominees,” he said of what Republicans need to do to gain control of the Senate in 2025 and slow Harris' policies.
Toomey served as a Pennsylvania senator from January 2011 to January 2023.
