Daily Times

NEW YORK: A three-term US representative from New York Richard Hanna became the first Republican member of Congress to declare publicly that he would vote for Hillary Clinton for president on Tuesday, US media reported.

Even though some other Republicans in the House have refused to endorse the Republican nominee Donald Trump, so far none of the others have promised to cross the aisle and vote for his Democratic rival on November 8.

Richard, who represents an eight-county district in upstate New York and is a former businessman, announced his decision in an interview and a letter on the opinion pages of a local news site. “While I disagree with her on many issues, I will vote for Clinton,” he wrote.

“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,” he added.

He said that the former US secretary of state, first lady and New York senator had promoted many issues to which he had been committed, including the expansion of education and women’s health care.

The news site reported him saying in an interview that he considered supporting Clinton for months, but decided to take action after watching Trump criticise the Muslim American parents of a US soldier killed in Iraq.

Richard has served as congressman from New York since 2011 and previously announced plans to retire in December when his third term ends.