Former President Donald Trump pressed that an opponent ought to enter the Republican major towards Rep. Chip Roy, regardless of the submitting deadline lapsing final week.
“Has any smart and energetic Republican in the Great State of Texas decided to run in the Primary against RINO Congressman Chip Roy?” Mr. Trump mentioned on his social media platform Truth Social. “For the right person, he is very beatable. If interested, let me know!!!”
Mr. Roy has an unopposed pathway to the Republican nomination in his district north of San Antonio. He could have a Democratic challenger, scientist Kristin Hook, within the normal election.
The district is deeply conservative, and Mr. Roy bested his earlier Democratic opponent by greater than 84,000 votes.
Fellow GOP lawmakers got here to Mr. Roy’s protection following Mr. Trump’s feedback, with some scoffing on the notion that the conservative was a RINO, or Republican in identify solely.
“I stand with [Rep. Chip Roy],” mentioned Rep. Thomas Massie, Kentucky Republican, on X. “He fights for what he believes and he’s one of the most conservative members of Congress. I can tell you with certainty that this shortsighted effort to intimidate Chip will not work.”
Mr. Roy and Mr. Trump have a historical past of butting heads. The Texan was one of many few Republicans who voted to certify the 2020 election and was important of the president within the days after the Jan. 6, 2021, protest on the U.S. Capitol.
Mr. Trump additionally went after Mr. Roy when the lawmaker ran for the House Republican Conference chairmanship in 2021 — a put up finally received by Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York.
“Can’t imagine Republican House Members would go with Chip Roy — he has not done a great job and will probably be successfully primaried in his own district,” Mr. Trump mentioned in a press launch on the time. “I support Elise, by far, over Chip!”
Mr. Roy has publicly supported Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis all through the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Mr. Trump holds a dominant lead within the shrinking discipline of candidates, whereas Mr. DeSantis has been shedding his grip on second place to former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
Mr. Roy appeared on Sean Hannity’s Fox News present alongside Mr. DeSantis throughout a marketing campaign cease in Iowa on Monday, saying voters, not polls, will resolve the winner of the Jan. 15 caucuses.
“We’re for principals, not princes. We don’t coronate anybody,” Mr. Roy mentioned. “We don’t let polls decide. It’s the American people through this process and the people of Iowa, who take it very seriously.”
