Vote for Clinton...

Republican Rep. Richard Hanna will vote for Clinton

By Nick Gass

Rep. Richard Hanna (R-N.Y.) will cast his ballot for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton this November, becoming the first Republican member of Congress to cross party lines and vote directly against Donald Trump.

"For me, it is not enough to simply denounce his comments: He is unfit to serve our party and cannot lead this country," Hanna wrote in an op-ed for Syracuse.com published Tuesday.

Hanna, a three-term lawmaker who had previously said he could never back Trump, acknowledged long-standing issues with Clinton but noted her commitment on common issues.

"Secretary Clinton has issues that depending on where one stands can be viewed as great or small. But she stands and has stood for causes bigger than herself for a lifetime," Hanna wrote. "That matters. Mrs. Clinton has promoted many of the issues I have been committed to over the years including expanding education and supporting women's health care."

While noting that he disagrees with her "on many issues," wrote Hanna, who previously said he'll retire at the end of his term, "I will vote for Mrs. Clinton."

"I will be hopeful and resolute in my belief that being a good American who loves his country is far more important than parties or winning and losing. I trust she can lead," he wrote. "All Republicans may not like the direction, but they can live to win or lose another day with a real candidate. Our response to the public's anger and the need to rebuild requires complex solutions, experience, knowledge and balance. Not bumper sticker slogans that pander to our disappointment, fear and hate."

Hanna represents the state's 22nd district, which narrowly voted for Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama in 2012—49.2 percent to 48.8 percent.