Republican Senate candidate says he won’t vote for Trump

OLYMPIA – The Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Washington state says he can’t support Donald Trump as his party’s nominee.

Chris Vance, who is running against incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, said Thursday that unless a conservative third-party alternative comes forward by November, he won’t vote for president in the election.

Several other Republicans in the state have also said they can’t support Trump, most recently Rep. Sen. Steve Litzow, who posted a statement to his Facebook page on Wednesday. Litzow joins fellow Republicans Sen. Joe Fain and state Rep. Drew Stokesbary, who have been vocal in their opposition to Trump. Trump supporters in Washington include Republican Sens. Doug Ericksen and Don Benton.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Bryant has been silent on the presumed nominee.