Rep. Andy Barr of Kentucky dismissed criticism Sunday of his party by fellow Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump, saying they are out of touch with voters.
Of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Mr. Trump in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2020, riot at the U.S. Capitol, only two won their primaries, four lost and four are retiring.
Notably, Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming lost her primary last week to a Trump-backed challenger.
“I think it goes to show that … these congressional seats do not belong to politicians in Washington,” Mr. Barr told NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “These seats belong to the American people, and there is a massive, massive disconnect between the priorities of politicians in Washington and the concerns of the American people.”
He cited the rising costs of everyday goods as Americans’ main concern, not those “who obsess about the past” and “are not in touch with the American people.”
Ms. Cheney is vice chair of the House committee investigating the Capitol riot.
SEE ALSO: Liz Cheney says she’s ‘ashamed,’ ‘disgusted’ by GOP reaction to Trump raid
“Not once have any of my constituents, Republican or Democrat, talked about the 2020 election, Jan. 6, the committee in Washington or any of these issues,” Mr. Barr said. “They’re talking about not being able to afford putting food on the table, putting gas in their trucks, and not being able to see their grandson again because he died of a fentanyl overdose because we don’t have control over our southern border.”
Appearing on ABC’s “This Week,” Ms. Cheney said she felt “sad about where my party is” and has “no regrets” about her anti-Trump positions that cost her reelection.
“I feel sad about the way that too many of my colleagues have responded to what I think is a great moral test and challenge of our time, a great moment to determine whether or not people are going to stand up on behalf of democracy and on behalf of our republic,” she said.
Ms. Cheney said that in the wake of her defeat, she was contacted by President Biden and the other nine House Republicans who voted to impeach Mr. Trump.
She has vowed to work against Mr. Trump and any GOP candidate who questions the 2020 election from obtaining political office. Ms. Cheney has conceded she is mulling a run of her own for the White House but has offered few details.
“You run for president because you believe you’d be the best candidate, because you believe you’d be the best president of the United States,” she said. “Any decision that I make about doing something that significant and that serious would be with the intention of winning and because I think I would be the best candidate.”
• Ramsey Touchberry can be reached at rtouchberry@washingtontimes.com.
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