Tom Rice Ousted In South Carolina Primary

“Rep. Tom Rice (R-SC), a staunch conservative who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump for fomenting the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, was defeated Tuesday by a Trump-endorsed primary challenger, the first of the 10 House Republicans who backed impeachment to test the will of the primary voters and lose,” the New York Times reports.

“Mr. Rice’s loss to State Representative Russell Fry means that half of the 10 Republicans who voted to impeach will not return to Congress next year, and that number is likely to grow. In addition to Mr. Rice, four other House Republicans chose to retire rather than face the pro-Trump core of the Republican electorate.”

Politico: “Rice’s downfall comes 17 months after he joined a majority of the House — but only nine other Republicans — in charging former President Donald Trump with inciting the Capitol riot. It was a shocking vote from a congressman who had rarely criticized Trump beforehand. Since then, Rice has faced death threats, a censure from his state’s party and a long, rocky campaign.”