If you’re having reservations about Donald Trump, you’re not alone. The Hill reports that dozens of former GOP lawmakers sent an open to letter to Republicans on Thursday, expressing concern that Trump lacks the “intelligence” and temperament to be president.

Calling Trump’s candidacy “disgraceful,” the lawmakers also say Trump has made a “mockery of the principles and values” they sought to represent in Congress. They vow not to vote for him in November and urge other Republicans to do likewise.

The group includes several former lawmakers who have openly opposed Trump from the start, such as former Sen. Gordon Humphrey (R-N.H.) and former Rep. Vin Weber (R-Minn.). However, more than half of the letter’s signatories are stepping up to the plate to announce their opposition to Trump for the first time. They include former GOP committee chairmen, lawmakers from swing-states with decades of experience on Capitol Hill, one of the first openly gay members of Congress, and one member who led investigations on Capitol Hill into Clinton scandals.

Also included are “swing-state stalwarts” like Reps. Bill Clinger (R-Penn.), Jim Leach (R-Iowa), Tom Petri (R-Wis.) and G. William Whitehurst (R-Va.). Each spent more than a decade on Capitol Hill. A Wisconsin Republican, Petri is reportedly an ally of House Speaker Paul Ryan. Leach is an ally of former Speaker John Boehner.

In its statement, the group said,  “Our party’s nominee this year is a man who makes a mockery of the principles and values we have cherished and which we sought to represent in Congress.”

Continuing via The Hill:

“Given the enormous power of the office, every candidate for president must be judged rigorously in assessing whether he or she has the competence, intelligence, knowledge, understanding, empathy, judgment, and temperament necessary to keep America on a safe and steady course,” the letter continues. “Donald Trump fails on each of those measures, and he has proven himself manifestly unqualified to be president.” …

Other former members rejecting Trump include Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.), who chaired the House Science and Technology Committee, Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.), the second openly gay Republican in Congress, Amo Houghton, Jr. (R-N.Y.), who was once the wealthiest member of Congress, and Geoff Davis (R-Ky.), who was consistently among the most conservative Republicans in Congress.

“In nominating Donald Trump, the Republican Party has asked the people of the United States to entrust their future to a man who insults women, mocks the handicapped, urges that dissent be met with violence, seeks to impose religious tests for entry into the United States, and applies a de facto ethnicity test to judges,” the group said.

 

The lawmakers also had some harsh words for Trump’s fly-off-the-handle style and raises the alarm regarding his overall suitability and fitness to serve as president:

“He offends our allies and praises dictators. His public statements are peppered with lies. He belittles our heroes and insults the parents of men who have died serving our country. Every day brings a fresh revelation that highlights the unacceptable danger in electing him to lead our nation.” …

Highlighting the sharp division within Republican ranks over the nominee, the letter continues:

“We are proud of our service in the United States Congress and proud that we served in that role as Republicans.

“It is in that spirit that, as Donald Trump’s unfitness for public office has become ever more apparent, we urge our fellow Republicans not to vote for this man whose disgraceful candidacy is indefensible. This is no longer about our party; it’s now about America. We may differ on how we will cast our ballots in November but none of us will vote for Donald Trump.”

 

Here’s the full list of signers:

Steve Bartlett (R-Texas)

Bob Bauman (R-Md.)

Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.)

Jack Buechner (R-Mo.)

Tom Campbell (R-Calif.)

Bill Clinger (R-Penn.)

Tom Coleman (R-Mo.)

Geoff Davis (R-Ky.)

Mickey Edwards (R-Okla.)

Harris Fawell (R-Ill.)

Ed Foreman (R-Texas and N.M.)

Amo Houghton, Jr. (R-N.Y.)

Gordon Humphrey (R-N.H.)

Bob Inglis (R-S.C.)

Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.)

Steve Kuykendall (R-Calif.)

Jim Leach (R-Iowa)

Pete McCloskey (R-Calif.)

Connie Morella (R-Md.)

Mike Parker (R-Mo.)

Tom Petri (R-Wis.)

John Porter (R-Ill.)

Claudine Schneider (R-R.I.)

John “Joe” Schwarz (R-Mich.)

Chris Shays (R-Conn.)

Peter Smith (R-Vt.)

Edward Weber (R-Ohio)

 

The letter comes just 33 days before election night as Trump is sinking in the polls.

Sour grapes or spot on? What say you?

 

H/T: The Hill