On Thursday, a group of anti-Trump Republicans supported a slate of Democrats and centrist Republicans in the 2022 midterm elections to challenge the former president’s control of the party.
The Renew America Movement (RAM) has announced its support for a plethora of reelection candidates. After the Jan. 6 insurgency, which was fuelled by then-President Trump’s falsehoods about the election being stolen in November, a group of GOP moderates formed the organization.
“There is an urgent movement underway by Republicans and former Republicans to halt the tide of anti-democratic and lie-based Republican leaders in Congress before it’s too late,” RAM said in a statement.
“Renew America released its Renewer Watchlist today.”
The Renewer Watchlist is made up of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents who are striving for genuine political gains.”
Among the endorsees are a few Republicans who have criticized Trump, including Rep. Liz Cheney (Wy.), who has become the former president’s public enemy No. 1 due to her repeated criticism of him over the insurgency, and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (IL.), who may not have a seat to run for after redistricting in Illinois.
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who voted to convict Trump during his impeachment trial earlier this year, is also being backed.
Eleven Democratic members of the House and Senate are also on the list, the majority of whom are competing in tight races. Among them are Sen. Mark Kelly (Ariz.), who is fighting for re-election to a full term in a headline Senate contest in Arizona next year, as well as frontline House members like Reps. Abigail Spanberger (Va.) and Jared Golden (Maine).
“With the growing challenges to our democracy and Constitution, we need people who work proactively to move their party and the country away from the extremes,” Joel Searby, RAM’s national political director, told Reuters, the first to report on the endorsements.
RAM’s founders include former Trump administration officials who have since turned opponents, such as former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci and Department of Homeland Security official Miles Taylor.
