And at least two members have shown a private interest in running Cheney as the Republican no. 3 to replace, say sources: Rep. Elise Stefanik and Lee Zeldin, two New Yorkers who both became popular in the party after defending Trump fiercely during his first indictment.
If Cheney loses her post, it will be the latest sign that the Republican Party’s Trumpification will not stop any time soon, not even after the former president flew to Mar-a-Lago in Washington with a disgraceful legacy. Some say the Cheney battle has already become a proxy battle for the heart and soul of the shattered GOP.
“She has proven herself out of step with the vast majority of our conference and Republicans across the country,” said freshman Representative Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.), Who is chairing the resolution in which Cheney asked be to retire. “A lot of people in our conference have a problem with that.”
“There are other people who are absolutely interested in filling the void I will tell you,” he added about possible Cheney replacements. “And they have broad support.”
Long simmering frustrations with Cheney – who was once a fast-rising star in the IDP – have penetrated the IDP, especially under his right flank, according to interviews with more than a dozen lawmakers and assistants. Members are not only angry at her accusation, but are also furious that Cheney announced her position a day in advance. That gives the Democrats enough time to use her statement in all of their discussion points, while also providing coverage to nine other Republicans who support the accusation.
A compilation video from the Democrats and news media quoting Cheney’s statement about the accusation has even circulated in some GOP circles. As conference chair, Cheney is responsible for the party’s message effort.
But several other senior Republicans believe Cheney ultimately clings to her post, arguing that most Republicans have little appetite for creating more chaos in the conference, at a time when the party is desperate to unite.
And behind the scenes, Cheney has done a bit of damage control: she called to all corners of the conference to hear lawmakers and ensure the party is united going forward, according to a source familiar with the discussions.
“The removal of Liz as the conference chair when she did exactly what the leader told us all to do – to vote her conscience – sends a bad message,” he said. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the leading Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee. , said in a statement. ‘And I spoke to many members of our conference who expressed their support for Liz and her leadership. I have confidence that she will stay in her position and she has my support. ”
While GOP leader Kevin McCarthy (California) and Republican whip Steve Scalise (La.) Both said they want Cheney to stay in her job, McCarthy also told reporters on Thursday that ‘questions need to be answered’, such as the ‘style in which things were delivered. “Members have the opportunity to air these grievances during next week’s closed conference meeting,” McCarthy added.
The IDP is far from united when it comes to Cheney’s future. She has her share of ardent and sensational defenders in the House, including several members of the hierarchy and her senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Who said her ‘strong voice and leadership will matter more over the next four years’. as ever. ”
Cheney’s allies argue that the removal of her leadership – and thus the party’s even more closely aligned with Trump – could fall back before 2022. It could also help Cheney work out a unique track if she chooses to ‘2024’. Launch a White House bid. .
“I think it would be a disaster,” Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) Said about Cheney’s possible eviction. “We have to keep an eye on the ball. We have a very big chance of taking the majority. ”
“And if we continue to give the American people a vision of the Republican internal fratricide,” he added, “it does us no favors to convince them that we are better inclined to lead the House of Representatives. Joe Biden. ”
Even if Cheney manages to hold on to her leadership, she still faces serious questions about her long-term future in the House GOP, which is still overwhelming ahead of Trump. Some lawmakers think she will never be able to run for leadership again.
Meanwhile, her political problems at home have begun to pile up: state senator Anthony Bouchard has already announced a primary challenge, though it could be difficult to obliterate someone with a national profile as big Cheney. A Local Provincial Republican Party in Wyoming unanimously agreed to censor Cheney last weekend over her accusation.
This is a remarkable turnaround for Cheney, who only won a seat at the leaders’ table in her second term in Congress. Cheney, 54, even made a Senate bid last year to seek her fortune in the House, and some have wondered if she would one day take on McCarthy or Scalise for first place.
Yet Cheney – who has clashed with colleagues before – has turned down calls so far. She was also unapologetic about her accusatory attitude, presenting it as a voice of conscience and privately telling colleagues she wants to be on the right side of history, political consequences are condemned.
‘We are going to have these discussions within the conference. “We have differences of opinion on a whole range of issues, including this one,” Cheney told Fox News on Thursday. “I expect and am confident that we will be united going forward as a conference.”
Critics of Cheney began distributing a petition last week demanding that a special conference meeting be held to debate and vote on the resolution calling on Cheney to resign. Only 20 percent, or 43 members, of the House IDP are required to sign the petition to enforce the meeting.
But support from two-thirds of the conference is needed to vote on the resolution immediately. Otherwise, it goes to a special panel, which includes members of the leadership. And only if the committee reports a favorable recommendation, will the resolution go before the full conference for a vote, which will be done by secret ballot.
So far, the anti-Cheney crew has not yet submitted the petition for a special meeting, although members have expressed confidence that they have the numbers on their side.
The group also conducted a temperature check in the IDP to determine whether the majority supported her retiring as conference chair. Rosendale said several members are afraid they will be retaliated against if they call in public to remove Cheney, so they are more willing to vote in a secret ballot than to sign a petition.
“It’s always an extremely sensitive issue that you’re going to challenge the leadership,” Rosendale said. “Most members are concerned about how this vote could affect their committee appointments.”
Many of the same Republicans who supported the president’s unfounded election fraud, such as Freedom Caucus President Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Are now leading the charge against Cheney.
This is not Cheney’s first outing with the GOP’s right wing. Last summer, members of the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus slammed Cheney for criticizing Trump’s handling of the coronavirus, as well as being a primary challenger to Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) Supported.
At the time, some runners even discussed recruiting someone to challenge Cheney for conference chairmanship – Stefanik and Zeldin both drove – but no one acted. Cheney was then unanimously elected in November to serve another two-year term in leadership.
Some legislators doubt whether Stefanik or Zeldin would make a bid this time as well. Stefanik, who gave Cheney’s nomination speech in November, told at least some of her colleagues she did not want the job. However, other GOP sources told POLITICO she was making earlier calls to lawmakers to obtain their support.
And then there is Zeldin, who must face the challenge of starting the only woman from GOP leadership just after a record-breaking number of Republican women were elected to Congress. In addition, large corporations have frozen donations to lawmakers who have challenged the outcome of the election – which includes Zeldin and Stefanik – giving Cheney an advantage.
In the wake of how intense the problem has become, Cheney’s offices are receiving hundreds, if not thousands, of spam emails against Cheney, according to lawmakers / assistants.
Yet some members did not hesitate to express their support for Cheney.
“While we are determining where the Republicans are going, we need the leadership of Liz,” he said. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), Who serves with Cheney on the Armed Services Committee, said. “We have to have a big tent party, or else we have to judge indiscriminately.”
Another Republican from the House said, “If I did not vote to accuse the dumbest Republican in DC, why would I vote to remove the most serious Republican in DC?”
Burgess Everett contributed to this report.