Senate Republicans have been largely quiet about former President Donald Trump’s false claims about the election, his role in the deadly insurrection at the US Capitol, and his second impeachment.
But Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler took a different approach in a new television ad, released Wednesday, in which she rips Trump for the violence on January 6. The ad comes one day after Trump endorsed Rep. Doug Collins over Loeffler in the Georgia Senate race, following an endorsement of former Georgia Republican Rep. Karen Handel by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s political organization earlier this week.
It also comes as Loeffler and Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp appear likely to face tough primary challenges in 2022, with leading conservatives questioning whether they did enough to stand up to Trump during last year’s presidential election when he repeatedly tried to overturn the results in Georgia through baseless allegations of widespread voter fraud.”
Senate Republicans Speak About Trump Obsession
It also comes as Loeffler and Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp appear likely to face tough primary challenges in 2022, with leading conservatives questioning whether they did enough to stand up to Trump during last year’s presidential election when he repeatedly tried to overturn the results in Georgia through baseless allegations of widespread voter fraud.
During her victory speech Tuesday night, Abrams didn’t mention either Loeffler or Kemp by name but did speak about the importance of bipartisanship in the Senate going forward. “The work begins tonight,” she said. “There will be no one person whose leadership can solve our state’s problems or heal its wounds.”
As Trump has attacked his opponents, Senate Republicans have been largely quiet about the former president’s false claims about the election, his role in the deadly insurrection at the US Capitol, and his second impeachment.
Among the Senate Republicans who have spoken out are Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, and Mitt Romney of Utah — all moderate Republicans who aren’t seeking reelection next year. They’ve been joined by Democratic senators running for reelection in 2020: Sen. Joe Manchin in West Virginia and Sen. Amy Klobuchar in Minnesota.
