A billboard campaign has been created by a Republican group urging a number of GOP lawmakers to resign in the wake of the January 6 Capitol Hill riot.
According to The Hill, The Republican Accountability Project is going after a few House members and two senators who voted against certifying the Electoral College vote. The two Senators that are being targeted are Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Josh Hawley (R-MO).
GOP group launches billboard campaign urging Cruz, Hawley to resign https://t.co/e4ib6wypSd pic.twitter.com/hD9sYeQv3F
— The Hill (@thehill) January 30, 2021
Anti-Cruz Billboard: ‘You Lied About The Election’
One anti-Cruz billboard reads, “You lied about the election. The Capitol was attacked. Sen. Cruz: Resign.”
The House Republicans targeted in the billboards are Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Mo Brooks (R-AL), Madison Cawthorn (R-NC), Jim Jordan (R-OH), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Devin Nunes (R-CA), and Matt Gaetz (R-FL).
The group’s website states that $1 million is being spent on the billboard effort.
The Republicans Being Targeted By GOP Group All Denounced The Violence
Many of the Republicans now targeted by this group strongly denounced the Capitol Hill violence.
As chaos erupted in the Capitol on January 6, Cruz tweeted, “Violence is always unacceptable. Even when passions run high.”
“Anyone engaged in violence—especially against law enforcement—should be fully prosecuted,” Cruz added. “God bless the Capitol Police and the honorable men & women of law enforcement who show great courage keeping all of us safe.”
Violence is always unacceptable. Even when passions run high.
Anyone engaged in violence—especially against law enforcement—should be fully prosecuted.
God bless the Capitol Police and the honorable men & women of law enforcement who show great courage keeping all of us safe.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 6, 2021
Hawley tweeted, “Thank you to the brave law enforcement officials who have put their lives on the line.”
The senator added, “The violence must end, those who attacked police and broke the law must be prosecuted, and Congress must get back to work and finish its job.”
Statement from Senator Josh Hawley:
Thank you to the brave law enforcement officials who have put their lives on the line. The violence must end, those who attacked police and broke the law must be prosecuted, and Congress must get back to work and finish its job
— Senator Hawley Press Office (@SenHawleyPress) January 6, 2021
Cawthorn tweeted on January 7, “Last night, I spoke out in defense of our Constitution and a fair electoral process. I also unequivocally denounced the violence that took place in our nation’s capitol, it wasn’t patriotism it was thuggery.”
“We are all Americans,” Cawthorn added. “What unites us is greater than what divides us.”
Last night, I spoke out in defense of our Constitution and a fair electoral process. I also unequivocally denounced the violence that took place in our nation's capitol, it wasn't patriotism it was thuggery.
We are all Americans. What unites us is greater than what divides us.
— Madison Cawthorn (@CawthornforNC) January 7, 2021
But the executive director of the Republican Accountability Project, Sarah Longwell, wasn’t having it.
“These representatives and senators helped incite the attack on the Capitol by spreading lies about the election,” Longwell said.
“They have proved that they are unfit to hold office,” she added. “They should be nowhere near power.”
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Will This Effort Work?
Will the billboards work? The divisions that continue to widen in the Republican Party mostly trace back to Trump and what side of his administration certain members were on.
In Trump’s absence, those battles continue. But will the Never Trump forces actually get what they want?
That remains an open question at best.