Trump revenge tour: 13 GOP incumbents targeted for party challenge in 2022 congressional races
There are thirteen House and Senate races targeted so far by former President Donald Trump's revenge tour to unseat GOP incumbents who voted to impeach him in January or to support Biden administration policies.
Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) voted to impeach President Trump after the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Trump was ultimately acquitted by the U.S. Senate.
Upton also voted in favor of President Biden's $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill last Friday. In September, Trump endorsed a GOP primary challenger against Upton.
Trump endorsed a GOP primary challenger to Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who also voted to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6 breach at the Capitol. Trump also endorsed Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) to replace Cheney as GOP conference chair in May.
Trump has been supportive of an effort to unseat Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.), who voted in favor of his impeachment in January. Katko was another one of the 13 Republicans who voted for Biden's infrastructure bill shortly after Republicans swept to victory in statewide offices in Vriginia's off-year election.
Trump has excoriated the Republicans who helped Democrats pass the infrastructure bill in the House and Senate. A GOP challenger, who supports Trump, this month entered the GOP primary race against Katko.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced on Friday that she is seeking reelection. Trump, who has publicly criticized Murkowski's impeachment vote and role in negotiating the infrastructure bill, has endorsed Republican challenger Kelly Tshibaka for her seat and pledged to visit Alaska to campaign in person against the incumbent.
Trump has endorsed a Republican primary challenger against Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.), who voted to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6 riot.
Rep. Tom Rice (R-S.C.), who also supported impeaching Trump in the House, is another incumbent Trump is looking to target for a primary challenge as the November 2022 election draws closer.
Trump released a statement on Saturday evening that contained a list of names he wants to see challenged by "America First Republican Patriots" in the 2022 election, including Beutler, Rice, Murkowski, Katko, Cheney, Upton and 7 additional incumbents.
"Any interest from good and SMART America First Republican Patriots to run primary campaigns against Representatives Tom Rice, John Katko, Don Bacon, Don Young, Fred Upton (challenge accepted), Andrew Garbarino, Peter Meijer (challenge accepted), David McKinley (challenge accepted), Nancy Mace, Jaime Herrera Beutler (challenge accepted) and Chris Smith? You will have my backing!" Trump said.
In the statement, Trump also named GOP lawmakers who announced that they are not seeking re-election.
"Gonzalez, Kinzinger, and Reed already QUIT, they are out of politics, hopefully for good. Warmonger Liz Cheney (challenge accepted) is on the SKIDS with a 19% approval rating," he said. "Saving America starts by saving the GOP from RINOs, sellouts, and known losers! In the Senate, the 'Disaster from Alaska,' Lisa Murkowski (challenge accepted), must go. There is 'almost' nobody worse!"
There are another three House races Trump might target by endorsing challengers to the Republican incumbents.
Trump recently called out Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) for voting in favor of Biden's infrastructure bill during the National Republican Congressional Committee dinner, which is a sign that Trump might campaign for a challenger to her reelection.
Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) has a Republican conservative primary opponent in his race to hold onto his seat. His challenger hasn't received a formal endorsement yet, but Newhouse's vote to impeach Trump in January might cause Trump to get involved in the race.
House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy has endorsed Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.) for reelection, despite his vote to impeach Trump in January. McCarthy has reportedly encouraged Trump not to back an opponent facing Valadao.