Last two pro-impeachment House Republicans survive reelection
The last remaining House Republicans who voted to impeach President-elect Trump following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, survived their reelection bids this cycle, according to projections from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ.
Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) and David Valadao (R-Calif.) defeated their challengers in the blue-leaning states, securing another term in Congress and assisting the House GOP in its quest to keep the majority.
Newhouse fended off former NASCAR driver and fellow Republican Jerrod Sessler in Washington’s 4th Congressional District. Sessler was endorsed by Trump and the House Freedom Caucus. Newhouse initially placed second to Sessler in this year’s primary, but Washington state has an open primary system, meaning the top two contenders advance to the general election.
Trump waded into the contest, hoping to pick off defectors that crossed him in early 2021. In the 2022 midterms, the first race after the House impeached the former president, Newhouse won his contest by amassing 68 percent of the vote.
The president-elect did not focus as much on Valadao’s race in California’s 22nd Congressional District. There, Valadao secured another term by beating Democrat Rudy Salas in a rematch of the 2022 contest.
President Biden easily won the Golden State district in 2020. In their previous matc-hup in 2022, Valadao beat Salas, a former California state assemblyman, by 3 points.
The other eight GOP lawmakers that voted to impeach the former president in 2021 either lost in the 2022 midterms or did not run for reelection. Trump was heavily involved in ousting some of these members, notably former Rep. Liz Cheney (Wyo.) who lost her reelection bid during the primaries to Rep. Harriet Hageman (R) by more than 30 points.
Cheney, who has emerged a fierce critic of the president-elect, said in early September that she voted for Vice President Harris (D), whom she also campaigned alongside in some battleground states while financially supporting a pro-Harris super PAC.
The White House race was called for Trump early Wednesday. Harris conceded the race and along with Biden has vowed to ensure a peaceful transfer of power.
The Hill has reached out to Trump’s spokesperson.