Republican Women for Progress Statement on RNC Censure

Republican Women for Progress (RWFP) is disappointed by the Republican National Committee (RNC) censure of Representatives Cheney (R-WY) and Kinzinger (R-IL) for serving on the House select committee investigating January 6, 2021.

RWFP supports a big tent Republican party that values different policy perspectives, experiences, and approaches. Despite years of dedicated service and an unimpeachable  conservative record, the RNC chose to censure Representative Cheney over her service on a single investigatory committee. Instead of being inclusive of different perspectives, this censure requires misguided fealty to Trump. Negating the career of a conservative champion to score political points continues to push the party backwards rather than allowing us to move forward.

Along with the censure, the RNC also voted to invoke the rarely used Rule 11, which allows the committee to intervene in a primary election, by designating Representative Cheney’s primary opponent, Harriet Hageman, as the Republican nominee. This reversal of a longstanding practice to stay out of primaries has implications for every elected Republican. While RWFP stands for electing more Republican women to federal office, we believe this sets a dangerous precedent for the RNC to weigh in on primaries.

Instead of punishing fellow Republicans, the RNC should focus on regaining Republican majorities in the U.S. House and Senate and providing a counterpoint to the Biden Administration. RWFP commends Representatives Cheney and Kinzinger for their service to country and party.