- Many Republican candidates for Congress are connected to the January 6, Capitol Attack.
- According to polling, at least three of these candidates stand a chance of winning next week’s race.
- Although no one has been charged in connection with the attack, several others continue to defend their presence at the Capitol on that day.
Many potential Republican lawmakers are riding 2020 election falsities all the way up to the ballot box this Nov., where at least seven people, who claim to have been at or near the US Capitol January 6, 2021, are looking to join the same institution that was attacked nearly two years back by a mob.
According to a report by The Washington Post, the seven Congressional candidates have raised doubts and conspiracy theories about 2020’s election results. CBS News — a strategy that ultimately seems to have won them favor with Republican voters. ABC News Political Director Rick KleinAn earlier report this month suggested that results from statewide primaries leading up to the November midterms suggest that GOP candidates’ connections to January 6 are now a badge for honor rather than a career-ending scandal.
Three of these candidates are likely to winTheir Congressional races will be held next week. Current members of Congress must now consider the possibility of losing their seats.
Multiple Democratic members spoke AxiosThis month, they stated that they were not ready to forgive the candidates and expressed concerns over their safety and democracy’s future if they win.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Washington, stated that it was terrifying because the people involved were violent insurrectionists. It’s also frightening from the point of view of our country… [members of Congress]Who are actively involved in denying the election.”
Although no candidate has been charged or arrested in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, many others have continued to defend themselves near the Capitol.
Derrick Van Orden, Wisconsin
Derrick Van Orden is a former Navy SEAL who is running for a seat in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District. He identified himself as one the demonstrators outside of the Capitol on January 6. Local op edThe attack was quickly followed by a swift recovery.
Van Orden stated that he was there for “meetings, and to support the integrity of our electoral systems as a citizen.” Van Orden claimed that he had left the area after observing the protest turn into a disorderly riot. The Daily Beast reported in June that Van Orden was photographed behind police barricades after the riot began — an allegation he rejected.
All three House Republicans in power, plus Donald Trump was the former PresidentVan Orden’s endorsement and their projections suggestive The Republican candidate holds the edgeAgainst Democratic state Senator Brad Pfaff, who also hopes to succeed longtime Democrat Rep. Ron Kind.
Insider reached out to Van Orden but did not receive a response immediately.
Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
Sandy Smith, North Carolina
Sandy Smith is a self-described “military mother” and businessman who is running in North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District. On January 6, 2021, she tweeted two photos of the crowd marching toward Washington, with the caption: “In DC fighting to Trump! Just marched from Monument to Capitol!
The postTwitter still has the following:, which also included #StopTheSteal
Smith defeated seven other Republican candidates to win a crowded primary in May. Trump also supported Smith in September. This is her second chance at Congress, after losing to G.K. Butterfield (Democratic Rep.) in 2020. She was defeated. She believed in unfounded conspiracy theoriesThe legitimacy of the election results.
While the North Carolina congressional district she is running in tends to be slightly Republican, Smith’s hardline extremist views have been predicted by political analysts predictingDonald Davis, Democrat, may have the edge in this race.
Insider asked Smith for comment but was not immediately contacted by Smith.
Photo by Allison Joyce/Getty Images
JR Majewski in Ohio
JR MajewskiMarcy Kaptur, Ohio’s 9th Congressional District Representative, is being challenged. Kaptur, who was put in danger by a redrawn district, will be seeking to unseat Kaptur.
Majewski, a QAnon livestreamer, was at Capitol on January 6, 2021. He said: A local interviewHe claimed that he was “responsible” for 60-70 Capitol employees, but he left when “everything began to happen.”
Majewski Keep it upOn January 6, 2021, he did not break any laws and tweeted that he was cleared by the FBI.
Majewski won in his Republican primary and received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. But a financial disclosure violation Insider first reported this informationAlso, a September Report by the Associated Press revealing that Majewski misrepresented certain aspects of his serviceAir Force: Kaptur was slightly ahead
Majewski continued to be a great leader throughout his campaign. downplayThe insurrection, suggesting that in one TweetThe violence was aided by the Capitol police.
Insider asked Majewski for comment but was not immediately able to respond.
Tom E. Puskar/AP PH
Additional candidates have Jan. 6 ties to four additional candidates
CBS NewsThis week featured four other candidates, who were in DC Jan. 6, and have since launched long-shot campaigns for a Congressional Seat. Polling suggests that they are unlikely to make it to Washington.
Leon Benjamin Sr. is running to be the Republican nominee for Virginia’s 4th Congressional District. There, Democratic incumbent Rep. Donald McEachin beat him more than 22 times in 2020 despite his protestations. The election was compromised.
Benjamin posted PhotosA video of him outside the Capitol on January 6, which he uploaded to his Facebook page, along with a shot with Mike Lindell.
Tine Forte is challenging Alexandra Ocasio Cortez, the wunderkind incumbent in New York’s 14th Congressional District. This comes after an overwhelming defeat in 2020.
Forte live-streamed videoWith other Trump supporters near the Capitol on January 6, and told NY1That she doesn’t regret having been there that day.
After losing the 2020 spot, Jo Rae Perkins has returned to the US Senate to seek a seat as Oregon’s representative. She is challenging Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, who has been in Congress from 1996 to present.
Perkins spoke one day after the insurrection. KOINShe approached the Capitol’s exterior on January 6, but didn’t enter the building.
Jeff Zink is running against Ruben Galego, the Democratic incumbent in Arizona’s third Congressional District. CBS reported that Zink stated to local Texas news that he had not entered the Capitol or engaged in violence on January 6. Ryan Zink was his son. Arrests made in February 2021He pleaded not guilty to Capitol riot charges.
Insider reached out to the remaining candidates but they did not respond immediately.
