On this weekend where many local elections were held, we should thank all of the candidates and supporters who put principles first and entered the ring. With the school year coming to an end and summer ready to greet us, we hope that many are able to get outside and hopefully enjoy the fruits of a widely available vaccination. Here’s your monthly wrap up of what’s happening around the #principlesfirst movement.
Principles First and the Texas free-for-all. Twenty three candidates ran for the open seat in Texas’ sixth congressional district. Michael Wood, a Marine and the only Republican candidate to disavow “stolen election” claims, received national attention for his attempt to pull the GOP back on course and out of the conspiracy camp. Michael’s traditionally conservative positions and criticism of Trump were the perfect way to test the former president’s pull in suburban DFW. There are definite signs of hope in the fact that the Trump-endorsed candidate received only 19% of the vote. Michael’s trailblazing effort showed us how steep the hill we are climbing is, however, with his 9th place finish out of 23.
Republican infighting continues. Congresswomen Liz Cheney (R-WY), the number three ranking Republican in the house, is under fire from other Republican leaders who are loyal to former President Trump. Representative Cheney’s vote to impeach the President for inciting insurrection and her subsequent attempts to wrest the GOP away from the nationalists are continually met with opposition from others within her party. Her plight will continue to be the story of whether the party moves forward and away from the 45th President or stays under Trump’s thumb.
Voting legislation a-plenty. With tailwinds from GOP officials continuing to give credence to the “stolen election” narrative, Republicans in state houses are pushing voting legislation which critics say are attempts to shape the electorate in their favor. In states like Georgia, Texas, and Arizona, where the GOP holds state-house majorities but are ceding electoral ground, Republicans look to be searching for ways to stay in power by changing the rules. Arizona Republican state senator Kelly Townsend was a shining #principlesfirst light when she called out her state’s legislation for the bad-faith effort it was and sunk the legislation in the near-term.
Romney fights on. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) continues to lead with principles first in the face of a loud opposition. At the Utah state Republican convention, the former GOP standard bearer was booed for his impeachment votes and his criticism of the former administration. Despite his genuine efforts to plead with the Biden administration to curb spending and his generally conservative positions, his distractors are many as the failed vote to censure him showed. It failed narrowly, at 798-711.
Police reform gains momentum. Following the guilty verdict reached in former officer Derek Chauvin’s trial for the murder of George Floyd, police reform has bipartisan momentum. While Democrats seek aggressive legislation, potentially undercutting public safety, Republicans are warm to some measures. In the Republican response to the Biden’s joint session address, Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) sought out some common ground for reform. Leading with a statement that “America is not a racist country, he then brought up his personal experience saying “I personally understand the pain of being stopped 18 times driving while Black.” Ending qualified immunity and no-knock warrants look to be on the table.
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This month’s Principles First Rollup editor is Justin Louis Pitcock (twitter: @jlouispitcock)
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