Topline
Though former President Donald Trump has pledged to help Republicans retake Congress in 2022, he is also waging intra-party warfare, training some of his firepower on Republicans he has deemed insufficiently loyal. These are the GOP primary challengers he has endorsed:
Key Facts
Max Miller, Ohio’s 15th U.S. House District: A former Trump campaign and White House aide who rallied with the ex-president in June in his bid to unseat Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, who voted for Trump’s impeachment in January.
Jody Hice, Georgia Secretary of State: A congressman who has been one of the champions of Trump’s baseless election fraud claims and is challenging Republican incumbent Brad Raffensperger, who refused to go along with Trump’s election schemes.
Kelly Tshibaka, Alaska U.S. Senate race: A former state official who has questioned the results of the 2020 election and is attempting a primary challenge to Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who voted to convict Trump in his impeachment trial in February.
Joe Kent, Washington’s 3rd U.S. House District: A military veteran who has called to “adjudicate” the 2020 election if Republicans retake Congress and is challenging Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, who voted for impeachment.
Steve Carra, Michigan’s 6th U.S. House District: A state representative who has introduced legislation to create a “forensic audit” of Michigan’s 2020 election results and is challenging Rep. Fred Upton, another impeachment Republican.
Harriet Hageman, Wyoming’s At-Large U.S. House District: A former Republican National Committee member who is challenging Rep. Liz Cheney, who has emerged as one of Trump’s most vocal Republican critics in Congress.
Key Background
Trump was impeached by all House Democrats and 10 Republicans for his role in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, but he was acquitted the following month when all 50 Senate Democrats and 7 Republicans voted to convict him, short of the 67 votes needed for conviction.
Tangent
Trump’s vendetta against Murkowski began long before she voted for conviction. Last June he vowed to personally campaign against her and endorse any challenger with a “pulse” after Murkowski said she was “struggling” with whether to vote for his reelection.
What To Watch For
More endorsements are likely to come down as the 2022 campaign heats up. One Republican in Trump’s crosshairs is Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois who, like Cheney, is a vocal critic and sits on a House select committee investigating the January 6 attack. Trump has also hinted at plans to support a challenger to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine for acknowledging President Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election.
