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Liz Cheney and the Fate of the 10 Republicans Who Defied Trump

Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming, one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach President Donald J. Trump over the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, will face Republican primary voters on Tuesday. Mr. Trump made it his vengeful mission to force these Republicans out of Congress. And he has largely been successful: Seven have either been defeated in primary races or chose not to run again at all. Only two have survived their primaries, and Ms. Cheney is the last whose fate is yet to be decided.

Here are the details about how each of those lawmakers has fared.

Facing a Primary on Tuesday

Primary on Aug. 16, 2022

Representative Liz Cheney

Wyo. At-Large District

Primary on Aug. 16, 2022

When it came time to vote on impeachment, Ms. Cheney explained her decision by saying Mr. Trump’s role in the insurrection caused “death and destruction in the most sacred space in our Republic.” She forcefully leaned into that position for the next 18 months.

The Three Who Lost Their Primaries

Lost Aug. 9, 2022

Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler

Wash. Third District

Lost Aug. 9, 2022

Mr. Trump endorsed Joe Kent, an Army Special Forces veteran, in the primary against Ms. Herrera Beutler, and she conceded defeat.

Lost Aug. 2, 2022

Representative Peter Meijer

Mich. Third District

Lost Aug. 2, 2022

Mr. Meijer was narrowly ousted in a Republican primary this month by John Gibbs, a former Trump administration official whom the former president endorsed.

Lost June 14, 2022

Representative Tom Rice

S.C. Seventh District

Lost June 14, 2022

Mr. Rice campaigned twice for Mr. Trump. He voted twice for Mr. Trump. When he decided that the Capitol riot was inexcusable, his opponent was endorsed by Mr. Trump. That challenger, Russell Fry, a state lawmaker, defeated him.

The Four Who Will Retire

Announced April 5, 2022

Representative Fred Upton

Mich. Sixth District

Announced April 5, 2022

Mr. Upton decided to walk away from Congress after more than 30 years rather than face a Trump-endorsed primary challenger in a negative, expensive campaign while enduring death threats.

Announced Jan. 14, 2022

Representative John Katko

N.Y. 24th District

Announced Jan. 14, 2022

Mr. Katko’s impeachment vote, plus his support for other bipartisan bills, infuriated the right wing of his party. Almost exactly one year after his impeachment vote, Mr. Katko said he would forgo a re-election campaign.

Announced Oct. 29, 2021

Representative Adam Kinzinger

Ill. 16th District

Announced Oct. 29, 2021

Mr. Kinzinger announced his retirement amid death threats from voters and hostility from Republican colleagues. Like Ms. Cheney, he has taken a front-and-center role on the committee investigating Mr. Trump’s role in the Capitol riot.

Announced Sept. 16, 2021

Representative Anthony Gonzalez

Ohio 16th District

Announced Sept. 16, 2021

Mr. Gonzalez was the first casualty of this group when he said in September that he had been deluged with threats, feared for the safety of his wife and children, and would retire rather than face a ferocious primary.

The Two Still Standing

Advanced Aug. 5, 2022

Representative Dan Newhouse

Wash. Fourth District

Advanced Aug. 5, 2022

Mr. Newhouse outlasted his Trump-endorsed opponent thanks largely to an open primary system in Washington in which candidates of every party run in a single qualifying contest, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election in November.

Advanced June 24, 2022

Representative David Valadao

Calif. 22nd District

Advanced June 24, 2022

Mr. Valadao is the unicorn of this bunch: Despite calling Mr. Trump “without question, a driving force in the catastrophic events” at the Capitol, he avoided being personally targeted by the former president.


Source: Elections - nytimes.com


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