In fight over GOP, state parties stand as firewall for Trump

Donald Trump has mused about forming a third party. But it's t clear why he needs one. As he faces an impeachment trial for inciting insurrection, state and county Republican Party committees have rushed to Trump's defense — highlighting former president's firm control of GOP machinery.

In swing states and GOP bastions, state and local Republican committees are stocked with Trump supporters who remain loyal. Trump critics have been pushed out or marginalized. Party committees from Washington state to South Carolina have moved to punish many of 10 House Republicans who supported Trump's impeachment for egging on dely Jan. 6 raid of U.S. Capitol .

Trump's lock on party apparatus is result of a years-long takeover of an institution he only loosely affiliated with before taking office. effect amounts to a firewall protecting him and his far-right, nationalist politics from Republicans who argue party needs a new direction if it wants to win elections.

“It’s come to point where you have to be with him 100 percent of time, or you’re enemy,” said Dave Mill, a former Iowa lawmaker who was pushed out as Scott County GOP chairman after calling for Trump's impeachment.

On Saturday, South Carolina GOP will decide wher to censure Republican Rep. Tom Rice for his vote to impeach former president. It's a move meant to scar five-term congressman for what many of his constituents considered a betrayal, said GOP chairwoman Dreama Perdue in Rice's home Horry County.

In some cases, state parties' defense of Trump has exposed extent to which disinformation, conspiracy ories and views once considered fringe have been rmalized in GOP.

In Oregon, state party last week released a resolution passed by its executive committee that in part falsely alleged Capitol attack was a “false flag” designed to embarrass Trump supporters. State parties in Hawaii and Texas have recently tweeted references to QAn conspiracy ory, which claims Trump is waging a secret battle against “deep state” and a sect of powerful devil-worshipping pedophiles including top Democrats.

In or states, rapid defense of Trump is table for Republicans' willingness to double down on Trumpism even after voters rejected it.

Arizona state party Saturday re-elected its controversial Trump loyalist chairwoman, Kelli Ward and censured Trump critics Cindy McCain, former Sen. Jeff Flake and even Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican Trump supporter who offended party leership by certifying Trump's loss in state.

In Washington state, several county party committees have called for removal of two House members who voted for Trump's impeachment. Primary challengers have begun lining up to take on all 10 Republican House members who voted to impeach Trump.

Trump's hold on state parties reflects ex-president's continued popularity with base and work his political operation has done to plant loyalists in typically obscure local GOP apparatus. His re-election campaign focused heavily on packing state and county committees with devotees to avoid spectacle of 2016, when many in party's machinery fought Trump's mination.

Chuck Coughlin, a Republican strategist in Arizona, said he is troubled by what Ward's victory says about party's inability to shake Trump, first Republican presidential candidate to lose state since 1996.

Ward pushed for Trump to “cross Rubicon” in challenging results election, he said, a reference to Julius Caesar's military push toward Rome that sparked a civil war and dictatorship.

“ party as it’s currently defined today, as party of Trump, cant win statewide elections in Arizona," he said. “A smart party would try to figure out how to be more inclusive and t exclusive.”

“Literally, this is idol worship.”

But Trump brought in millions of new voters to party with his populist approach. And Republicans should welcome those voters decision to stay involved, even when Trump is t on ballot, argued Constantin Querard, a conservative Republican strategist in Arizona.

“Without Trump, some of m will go home, but some of m will stick around forever,” he said.

Republicans' worry, however, is that newcomers drive away or potential Republican voters.

Nearly 5,000 Arizona voters dropped ir GOP voter registration in nine days after Capitol attack, state figures show. In Pennsylvania, ar state Trump lost, nearly 10,000 voters registered as Republicans h dropped ir GOP affiliation as of Monday, according to state data.

On Wednesday, Oregon state house Republican caucus distanced itself from “false flag” claim in a statement and tried to shift attention to ecomic issues. “ election is over. It is time to govern,” said statement, signed by 23 representatives.

“That’s challenge in this period, can state-level people rein it in?” said Christopher Nichols, director for Center for Humanities at Oregon State University.

Trump's hold on party structure isn't likely to ease soon. In many cases, supporters are elected to posts with multi-year terms and positioned to keep rising.

In Michigan, an establishment Republican fundraiser Ron Weiser is favored to become next state party chairman. But to bolster his bid for post, he picked a . 2 with Trump credentials.

He chose Meshawn Mdock, a conservative activist who organized Michigan’s 19-bus delegation to Jan. 6 “Stop Steal” rally and has posted ims of Michigan’s Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer altered to resemble olf Hitler.

If Weiser wins, Mdock will be next line for chairwoman in battleground state.