Jan Brewer: Republicans who don’t support Donald Trump need to ‘get over it’

Former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has a simple message for Republicans who do not support presumed presidential nominee Donald Trump.

“I would call it sour grapes, you know? Get over it,” she told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Mac & Gaydos on Monday.

“Republicans need to support Republicans.”

Brewer said Republicans who are talking of skipping or have already decided to pass on attending the party’s national convention — set for Cleveland in July — are not doing their part to win the White House.

“Are they going to hold their nose,” she asked. “Are they going to run away? Or are they going to come on board and do what’s right for the Republican Party?”

On Monday, House Speaker Paul Ryan said he would step down as the convention chair if Trump asks him to. However, Brewer feels the Wisconsin representative will stay in the role after he meets with Trump later this week.

“I know Paul Ryan,” she said. “I think he’s a great guy. He’s a very, very smart man. I think that everything will get resolved.”

Brewer said party members are never unified on a nominee. No matter who the party selects — no matter if it’s Bob Dole, Mitt Romney or John McCain — someone in the party wasn’t happy.

But she said when the party is split and doesn’t get excited for its own candidate, voters can sense the apathy and may vote in favor of the other candidate.

“We didn’t win any of those elections because they were just kind of put out there,” she said. “Their polling numbers were low and they hadn’t put excitement into the races for whatever reasons.”

Brewer said party members need to focus on the ultimate goal, instead of whose name will appear on the ballot.

“We need to understand that we are Republicans,” she said. “We need to get behind our Republican candidate and, again, our goal is to defeat Hillary (Clinton).”