California Republican Speaking At DNC After Deciding To Vote Democrat

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Sacramento Republican Doug Elmets will give a speech at the Democratic National Convention this week, urging Republicans to cross party lines and vote for Hillary Clinton.

Elmets announced earlier this year that he would be supporting Clinton, but says he was surprised to get an invitation to speak on the national stage.

"I had absolutely no idea, and candidly I think if I had planned this out, I don't think it wouldn't have managed to unfold the way it has," Elmets said.

Elmets is a former Ronald Reagan staffer who commissioned the Reagan statue in the California Capitol.

Elmets says the rhetoric of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is what led to his decision to vote democrat for the first time in his life.

Elmets' friend, former congressman Doug Ose, is a Trump delegate who is surprised Elmets is crossing party lines.

"I can't put my hands on a logical explanation," Ose said. "I'm kind of worried about him."

Elmets says the theme of his speech will contrast Donald Trump and Ronald Reagan.

The speech is expected to last 2.5 minutes.

Elmets is scheduled to speak Thursday, the final day of the convention.