Politics

GOP Rep Who Voted To Impeach Trump Gains Primary Challenger

(Screenshot/X/SmileyForWA)

Former Republican Senate nominee Tiffany Smiley launched a primary challenge on Monday to Rep. Dan Newhouse of Washington, who is one of two remaining House GOP members who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump in 2021.

Smiley ran against Democratic Washington Sen. Patty Murray in the 2022 midterms, during which she lost to the longtime senator by roughly 15 points. The Republican emphasized her support for veterans in an announcement video on X, and touched on issues like government spending, immigration and inflation.

“We can do better. For almost 20 years I have worked to change the government from the outside, and now it’s clear — the best way for me to continue my work and deliver change for Washington families is inside Congress. So I’m running,” Smiley said in the video.

Newhouse faced a challenge from a Trump-endorsed candidate during the 2022 cycle, Loren Culp, who finished in third place with 21.6% of the nonpartisan primary’s share. The congressman went on to defeat Democrat Doug White by over 35 points.

“With our dams under threat, a crisis at our border, and working people unable to afford gas and groceries, this is no time for Central Washington to give up its clout in Congress or to hand over the keys to the federal budget to someone who couldn’t manage her own campaign’s finances,” Newhouse’s campaign told the Daily Caller News Foundation in a statement. “We have enough big spenders in D.C., we need a fiscal conservative to represent us in Congress, and Dan Newhouse is the only one who’s proven he can do just that.”

California Rep. David Valadao is the only other current GOP House member who voted with Newhouse and eight others to impeach Trump over his alleged involvement with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Republican Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, Peter Meijer of Michigan, Fred Upton of Michigan, Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, John Katko of New York, Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio, Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington and Tom Rice of South Carolina also supported impeachment.

Upton, Kinzinger, Katko and Gonzalez decided not to seek reelection following the impeachment vote, while Meijer, Cheney, Rice and Herrera Beutler lost their bids to Trump-endorsed candidates.

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to include a statement from Newhouse’s campaign.