We now have a good sense of the size of the “Always Trump” caucus in Congress

By Ngan R. Huffman Last updated Jun 18, 2021

The past few days have given us some clarity on this issue – with consecutive day votes on the award of four Congressional gold medals to law enforcement agencies in response to the Wednesday 6th uprising.

The first vote was described by Republicans who opposed it as a partisan move by the Democrats because the word “insurrection” was used to describe what happened on January 6th (it was an insurrection according to the definition of “insurrection”). in line with Trump’s vaunted efforts to rewrite history for the day.

Resistance to making Juneteenth a federal holiday was rooted in the idea that, in the words of Texas GOP Rep. Chip Roy, â€œit unnecessarily divides our nation on an issue that should instead bring us together by having a separate Independence Day based on the color his skin creates. “That, too, is a view that goes very well with Trump’s anti-wake crusade.

Let’s go through each vote.

No at Juneteenth (14 Republicans)

1. Andy Biggs (Arizona)

2. Mo Brooks, Alabama

3. Andrew Clyde (Georgia)

4. Scott DesJarlais (Tennessee)

5. Paul Gosar (Arizona)

6. Ronny Jackson (Texas)

7. Doug LaMalfa (California)

8. Tom Massie (Kentucky)

9. Tom McClintock (California)

10. Ralph Norman (South Carolina)

11. Mike Rogers (Alabama)

12. Matt Rosendale (Montana)

13. Chip-Roy (Texas)

14. Tom Tiffany (Wisconsin)

No to Congressional Gold Medal (21 Republicans)

1. Lauren Boebert (Colorado)

2. Mike Cloud (Texas)

3. Warren Davidson (Ohio)

4. Matt Gaetz (Florida)

5. Louie Gohmert (Texas)

6. Bob Gut (Virginia)

7. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Georgia)

8. Andy Harris (Maryland)

9. Jody Hice (Georgia)

10. Mary Miller (Illinois)

11. Barry Moore, Alabama

12. Scott Perry (Pennsylvania)

13. John Rose (Tennessee)

14. Greg Steube (Florida)

15. Andy Biggs (Arizona)

16. Andrew Clyde (Georgia)

17. Paul Gosar (Arizona)

18. Tom Massie (Kentucky)

19. Ralph Norman (South Carolina)

20. Matt Rosendale (Montana)

21. Chip-Roy (Texas)

(The bold type indicates Republicans who voted against both measures.)

So when you add it up you get 28 Total number of GOP members who voted against at least one of the measures, with an additional one seven vote against both.

When you overlay that with the House of Representatives Republicans who voted against the Electoral College certifications in Arizona and Pennsylvania, you get 25th Legislators from this group – all but Massie, McClintock, and Roy from the lists above.

These 25 are rightly seen as the hardcore Trumpists in Congress. That means roughly 12% of the 211 Republicans in the House of Representatives will follow Trump (and his wild claims) anywhere, if you count a little bit behind.

That doesn’t mean only 12% of Republicans in the House of Representatives are in Trump’s camp. As evidenced by the votes on the electoral college objections in Pennsylvania (138 Republicans) and Arizona (121 Republicans), contrary to all available facts, the number of GOP officials willing to endorse the former president’s conspiracy theories is far greater.

These 25 Republican members are best understood as the most ruthless believers in Trumpism – as it is. These are the people who form the core of his base, the people who continue to enforce his ridiculous claims about the 2020 elections, serve as foot soldiers in his war on wakefulness and keep the Trump fire burning to the end deciding, whether or not to start again in 2024.

And as last week’s votes make it clear, they are not going anywhere.

We now have a good sense of the size of the “Always Trump” caucus in Congress

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