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Republican Sen. Pat Toomey has warned against nominating Donald Trump loyalists in the upcoming primary election, and spoke in a lengthy interview ahead of Trump’s first post-presidential meeting this weekend.
Toomey warned that following Trump’s leadership could damage his party’s chances at the polls in next year’s midterm elections, when he will control both houses of Congress and dozens of governors ’mansions. He has represented Pennsylvania since 2010, but will not seek re-election next year.
“Yes [Trump] endorses candidates based on their loyalty to him, who are not strong candidates in their own right, then we could have an election in 2022 that goes worse than it should be, ”Toomey, a former derivatives trader and top Republican of the powerful Senate banking committee, he told the Financial Times. “Of course, that will also be reflected very badly in it, right?”
Toomey’s warning came ahead of a rally Trump planned Saturday night across Pennsylvania’s border with Ohio. The former president will lead an event in the small town of Wellington sponsored by his “Save America” political action committee.
Trump is campaigning for Max Miller, one of his former advisers who launched a major challenge against Republican Congressman Anthony Gonzalez. Trump supported Miller, calling him a “true patriot,” while saying Gonzalez “shouldn’t represent the people of District 16 because he doesn’t represent their interest or their heart.”
Gonzalez was one of ten House Republicans who voted to accuse Trump of his actions January 6, when a crowd of his supporters stormed the Capitol and interrupted Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory certification. Trump has not ruled out running for office again in 2024.
“If it turns out that strong pro-Trump candidates who were approved by Trump perform less well in the general election, well, that’s a pretty powerful lesson the party will learn the hard way,” Toomey said.
The Republican Party is divided on how to move forward with Trump no longer in the White House. Toomey was one of seven Republicans in the Senate who voted to condemn him in his second impeachment process. Toomey told the FT that Trump was a “flawed character” who “went completely off the rails” after the November election. But he insisted he remains optimistic about the future of his party.
“It simply came to our notice then. But I think that’s where we’ll get to. . .[with]a republican consensus. . . this looks back and says, you know, the Trump presidency had a lot of very important successes, like the best economy of our lives.
“I hope to get to the point where we say, okay, we had this very flawed character. But when he implemented Republican orthodoxy it worked really well,” Toomey added, citing tax reform and deregulation as examples. “When the game can reach the point where we can recognize it, and I think we will. . . then I think the party will go well. “
Toomey surprised many in Washington when he announced in October that he would not seek re-election or run for government in Pennsylvania. His decision, which has insisted on a personal rather than a political choice, paved the way for an electoral battle.
Biden won Pennsylvania, a crucial state, in last year’s presidential election, and raised hopes of Democrats who could regain the Toomey seat in the interim periods next year. Eight Democrats – including Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman and State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta – have declared their candidacy, as well as five Republicans.
Swamp notes
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