Republicans broke with Donald Trump. Now primary threats could be in the offing.
Dozens of House Republicans voted against a bill pushed by the president-elect to temporarily fund the government Thursday night, even after Trump promised retribution to those who crossed him.
The list of 38 Republicans opposed to the measure ranged from conservatives called out by name by the president-elect — like Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) — to less visible agitators like Republican Reps. Aaron Bean (Fla.), Russ Fulcher (Idaho) and Wesley Hunt (Texas).
“I’m happy to take the fire,” Roy told POLITICO Thursday evening. “I understand why the president wants the debt ceiling off the table, I support him. But I don’t support doing it for the sake of doing it, without structural spending reforms.”
The two men spoke before Trump launched his broadside on Truth Social against the Texas conservative on Thursday, according to two people familiar with the talk, granted anonymity to discuss the private conversation. Other conservatives minimized the primary threat, given their seats are comfortably Republican and often support incumbents by wide margins.
“It’s real for some people, but Chip Roy can survive it. I can survive it,” said Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.). “It’ll move the needle 20 points in a race. But if you were going to win 80-20 percent you can be okay.”
Trump has largely been successful driving his intra-party rivals from the party — most of the ten House Republicans who voted to impeach him are no longer serving — but not always. Trump previously looked to boot Massie, but he survived easily.
And Republicans are hoping there is strength in numbers. Most of the Republicans who opposed are housed in the House Freedom Caucus or are adjacent, often meaning they are in safe GOP districts. Still, Trump is powerful with the base and he could create real challenges for some.
In the end, the government funding measure fell way short of becoming law, especially given it was considered under suspension of the rules, an expedited process for consideration requiring two-thirds support. It included a two-year suspension of the nation’s borrowing limit in addition to a short term government funding patch.