"Today, given what we have experienced over the past four years, it is not enough to just to register our disapproval of the President. We need to elect someone else in his place, someone who will stop the chaos and reverse the damage." -Former US Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) 1/ https://twitter.com/JeffFlake/status/1297958223769559040

"[B]ecause of my conservatism, & because of my belief in the Constitution, & in the separation of power, & because I am gravely concerned about the conduct & behavior of our current president that I stand here today—proudly & wholeheartedly—to endorse Joe Biden..." -Jeff Flake 2/

As a lifelong LDS Democrat from Chicago I find the enduring resistance to Trump by Flake (& Romney) illuminating for understanding exact conditions they put #CountryOverParty, since white LDS membership remains split roughly evenly on Trump. Flake's Biden endorsement notable: 3/

FYI as of 2019 52% of LDS/Mormon voters approved of Trump, *before* Romney's historic impeachment vote in Feb 2020, the coronavirus pandemic onset in March, and the death of George Floyd in May.

LDS disapproval *may* have risen? Little updated data exist:
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/03/18/evangelical-approval-of-trump-remains-high-but-other-religious-groups-are-less-supportive/

Flake endorsed Biden and this subtle argument seemed central:
Trump's racist attack on Judge Curiel is part of his overall attack on rule of law, eventual disagreement w/ even R Supreme Court judges who Trump will turn on more if reelected.
4/ Flake: https://link.medium.com/ZpOyWGQCd9 

So what I find revealing about Flake (vs. Romney) is that Flake's opposition to Trump is centered on immigration, hard work, free trade, freedom across globe but he did not mention today racism of Trump against Black people. It may be he views this as predating Trump. However, 5/

However, Flake has always been avowedly pro-immigrant, not just pro-immigration or pro-business, whereas Romney made disastrous 2012 remark re. self-deportation. On the other hand, Romney declared Black Lives Matter, like Evan McMullin, while Flake hasn't. What does this mean? 6/

The fact that Romney endorsed Black Lives Matter but not Biden (yet?) stems from legacy of his father George as liberal integrationist Republican who actually tried to defund segregation in housing. Romney may not see need to endorse Democratic policy? 7/ https://www.thisamericanlife.org/512/house-rules 

I honestly don't know. What I do know--Jeff Flake & Mitt Romney are influenced by the sociological imagination, sociologist-speak for how their life story intersects with society's big stories--racial justice, his father's admirable legacy, & a Black grandchild for Romney... 8/

And for Flake, growing up and working closely with Mexican immigrants who were undocumented & documented and--crucially--who Flake always viewed as deserving and as potential US citizens, which many became per his 2017 NY Times OpEd 8/

From Flake's 2017 pro-immigrant OpEd: 9/
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/18/opinion/jeff-flake-we-need-immigrants-with-skills-but-working-hard-is-a-skill.html

More backstory on Romney's emerging embrace of his father's legacy on integration and civil rights: 10/ https://twitter.com/JakeRugh/status/1269620798387449856?s=20

My conclusion: White LDS men like Flake, Romney, AND also Democrats like Harry Reid & Tom Udall have been overrepresented by a factor of 8-10x vs. their US pop. share of 1%--they wield outsize influence and we should understand conditions for why they put #CountryOverParty 11/

Will LDS voters follow the courage of Romney, Flake, & Dems like Udall who repudiate Trump based on principle? Or will blind partisanship prevail? Flake's warning is clear: Trump doesn't care about anyone but himself, not even conservative judges, & certainly not LDS voters. /fin