Aiming At Trump, Former Bush Ethics Lawyer Enters Senate Race As Democrat
ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) — He worked in the White House for President George W. Bush, but now a prominent Republican ethics attorney wants to return to Washington -- as a Democrat.
Richard Painter, currently a professor at the University of Minnesota and frequent critic of President Donald Trump on cable news, formally announced Monday his campaign for U.S. Senate.
"We need to stand firm against what President Trump is threatening to do to our country," he told reporters.
The lifelong Republican says he's no longer welcome in the party.
"I'm fed up," he said. "We gotta walk."
He is planning to run as a Democrat against Democratic Sen. Tina Smith, who is serving out former Sen. Al Franken's unfinished term.
But his real opponent in the race appears to be the president.
"I think President Trump has demonstrated through his conduct and his rhetoric that he is unfit for office," Painter said.
He describes the president a danger to democracy, and compares Trump's rhetoric to Adolph Hitler.
He wants a Democratic majority so that impeachment hearings can begin.
"We need to stand firm against what President Trump is threatening to do to our country," he said.
Minnesota Republican leaders are calling Painter "a hater."
"His campaign is driven by hatred for the president," said Jennifer Carnahan, the chair of the Minnesota Republican Party. "A negative approach like that is not something that is going to inspire Minnesotans and it's not going to inspire people to get out and vote for him."
Painter says he hopes his campaign exposes Republicans who don't oppose Trump, and Democrats who don't oppose him enough.
"I don't hate Donald Trump. I don't hate anybody," he said. "I love America. I do hate what he is doing to our country."