After House Republicans gave Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney the boot from her role as the House GOP Conference Chair, now they’re doubling down to relieve her of the burden of holding higher office.
So far, over 100 House Republicans have promised to attend a fundraiser for Harriet Hageman, who will be challenging Cheney in the primaries. As Político noted, this figure “amounts to roughly half of the entire House GOP.” The hosts of this event include House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik of New York.
This event will be held at the home of Republican fundraiser Jeff Miller, who has served as an adviser to McCarthy.
Cheney has become the target of grassroots Republicans for her decision to impeach Donald Trump in the wake of the January 6 storming of the Capitol. Her move to sit on the January 6 committee and her constant attacks against Trump have further motivated grassroots activists to put credible challengers forward. Trump has taken interest as well, hence his decision to endorse Hageman in 2021.
The House Freedom Caucus, a staunchly conservative bloc in the Republican Party, is endorsing Hageman as well and has several liberty conservative members such as Andy Biggs, Lauren Boebert, Matt Gaetz, and Marjorie Taylor Greene in attendance. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul will also be in attendance.
The Daily Caller was the first outlet to report on this fundraising event’s existence.
Hageman has pulled in over $1 million in funds thus far during the first quarter of fundraising, according to a conservative source who has run the numbers. According to the Politico report, “The sum is considerable: During the fourth fundraising quarter of 2021, only three non-incumbents running for the House raised more than $1 million.”
Cheney’s actions are worthy of a primary challenge. She’s a neocon through and through, and that faction within the Republican Party must be decisively purged from the party. The fact is that bad political behavior must always be punished. Republican voters cannot be satisfied with just voting for the lesser of two evils. If there’s a bad incumbent, that person must be taken to task in the primaries. Even if an incumbent ends up winning his primary, a credible challenger can still compel them to change their political behavior.
The key in politics is to pursue behavioral change. Bad politicians who are rewarded with votes will continue to behave badly. It’s really that simple.
