MI Republican Rep. Meijer Joined Democrats To Impeach Trump, Now They Want His Seat

MICHIGAN — In an attempt to hold onto power in the U.S. House of Representatives this November, Democrats are backing a Trump-endorsed nominee against a popular Western Michigan representative, who was one of ten Republicans to join Democrats in impeaching former President Donald Trump.

Grand Rapids area U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer finds himself in a tough primary matchup against Republican challenger John Gibbs, and Democrats aren't making it easier for Meijer after spending $425,000 in advertising to elevate Gibbs.

The 30-minute TV ad says Gibbs is "too conservative for west Michigan," and said he was "handpicked by Trump for Congress."

The risky Democratic plan is an attempt to push candidates with far-right views over more moderate candidates, hoping they'll be easier to beat in the Midterm elections this November.

"The DCCC boosting John Gibbs is clear evidence of who [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi prefers in this race," Emily Taylor, Meijer's spokesperson, said in a statement, according to NPR. "We are confident that voters will see through Democrats' political games while Peter remains focused on the issues that matter most to the people he represents."

Meijer, a U.S. Army Reserve veteran deployed to Iraq in 2010, was of ten Republicans who joined Democrats and impeached former President Donald Trump after the Capitol Riot. Meijer said he considered the political ramifications of his vote, but ultimately, he said his vote was out of conscience, and he'd do it again.

Gibbs, who has routinely questioned the results of the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election, blasted Meijer's decision to impeach Trump in a CNN interview.

"I think it was the biggest career-ending move in history, possibly, for him to do that," Gibbs told CNN, saying it "catastrophically" hurt the congressman’s chances of reelection.

Although Michigan's congressional districts were redrawn by an independent commission, Meijer is seeking his current seat, even though some political pundits think it may have flipped to the left.

Because of that analogy, Democrats feel they can compete for a district seat that has long been Republican. And they feel endorsing the most radical candidates to face in November gives them the best opportunity to achieve that.