Hi there, it’s Tim Kaine.
Like you, I’ve been watching in horror at the developments of the last few weeks in the GOP-led House of Representatives.
As you know, Republicans have been unable to elect a Speaker of the House since October 3rd. The previous Speaker, Kevin McCarthy, was ousted by a handful of members of his own party for the crime of -- get this -- working with Democrats to avoid a government shutdown.
Next in line was Steve Scalise, who was summarily defeated by a different group of Republicans.
Then, Republicans nominated Jim Jordan, a true extremist who enjoyed the backing of Donald Trump and others in the so-called House Freedom Caucus.
Most people know that Jordan was one of the architects of Trump’s “Stop the Steal” efforts, voted to reject the 2020 election results just hours after the January 6th insurrection, and has consistently spread Donald Trump’s “Big Lie” rhetoric.
But many don’t know that Jordan -- in his 16 years in the House -- has never introduced a single bill that passed both houses of Congress. The Center for Effective Lawmaking has ranked him in the bottom five House Republicans in the last four Congresses.
So when Jordan was defeated by a handful of Republican “moderates” in the House, I didn’t exactly shed a tear.
No one knows what will happen next. But here’s one thing I do know: The GOP is not a party fit to govern. We have serious problems -- including significant threats to our national security and to that of our allies.
If Republicans are able to secure a majority in the Senate and maintain control of the House in 2024, our government -- and our country -- could be damaged, perhaps beyond repair.
There’s a lot we need to do. But the first step is to make sure Democrats control the Senate. That’s why I’m asking you to step up with a donation of $20 or more to my re-election campaign today.
