So the backlash continues.
The California GOP will attempt to censure Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) at a convention this weekend, following his vote last month to impeach then-President Trump for inciting the deadly Capitol insurrection.
Valadao was one of 10 House Republicans that voted to transmit the articles of impeachment charging Trump with “incitement of insurrection.” Much like third-ranking House Republican conference chair Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), both of whom voted to impeach Trump, Valadao is the latest to face intraparty backlash for bucking the former president.
Valadao’s office declined to comment on the censure resolution to TPM.
Erik Elness, a delegate who is a co-sponsor of the resolution, told the Los Angeles Times that although the violence during the Capitol insurrection was unacceptable, he does not believe Trump’s rhetoric incited the attack.
“I was surprised to see we have a California Republican, Congressman David Valadao, vote for impeachment,” Elness told the LA Times. “I disagreed with the grounds for impeachment, and I felt that it was inappropriate for a Republican congressman to vote for it.”
The LA Times noted that it is unclear whether the resolution to censure Valadao will be scheduled for a hearing at the virtual California GOP convention this weekend due to a disagreement over bylaws. Supporters of the effort to censure Valadao could potentially attempt to force a vote on Sunday.
Valadao’s possible censure by state Republicans also comes on the heels of most of the seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump during the former president’s second impeachment trial facing backlash. After voting in favor of convicting Trump last weekend, Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) have been censured by Republicans in the states they represent.
