Yet another Republican House member who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump lost his primary. In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Decision Desk ultimately called the Republican primary for Michigan's 3rd Congressional District for John Gibbs at 12:48am EST against Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI). Gibbs was endorsed by Trump.
Decision Desk HQ projects John Gibbs (@votejohngibbs) is the winner of the Republican nomination for U.S. House District 3 in Michigan.
— Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) August 3, 2022
Race call: 12:48am EDT
More results here: https://t.co/i8Kfj7R3z1
While Gibbs led earlier in the evening, and ultimately at the end, Meijer led for a time late in the evening on Tuesday night, though only by about a percentage point.
DDHQ Race Update (est. 69% in): MI-03 GOP
— Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) August 3, 2022
Peter Meijer: 24,937
(50.52%)
John Gibbs: 24,419
(49.48%)
Follow more results here: https://t.co/i8Kfj7R3z1
At 73 percent of the vote in, Gibbs had been leading with 51.85 percent of the vote to Meijer's 48.15 percent of the vote.
DDHQ Race Update (est. 73% in): MI-03 GOP
— Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) August 3, 2022
John Gibbs: 39,140
(51.85%)
Peter Meijer*: 36,350
(48.15%)
*Incumbent
Follow more results here: https://t.co/i8Kfj7R3z1
Rep. Meijer's primary race earned considerable coverage in recent weeks, as it was a race where the desperate Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) meddled considerably in order to boost Gibbs, who is considered easier to beat.
Dave Wasserman, of Cook Political Report, tweeted late on Tuesday evening that with a Gibb win, the race will likely become a "Lean Democrat." Currently, the seat is considered a "Toss-Up."
No House race is hinging on a GOP primary outcome quite like #MI03. If Rep. Peter Meijer (R) hangs on, it probably moves from Toss Up to Lean R.
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) August 3, 2022
If John Gibbs (R) beats him, it probably moves from Toss Up to Lean D.
I've seen enough: Trump-endorsed John Gibbs (R) defeats pro-impeachment Rep. Peter Meijer (R) in the #MI03 GOP primary and will face Hillary Scholten (D) in November.
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) August 3, 2022
Rating change: @CookPolitical will be moving #MI03 from Toss Up to Lean D.
In June, as I covered at the time, Rep. Tom Rice (R-SC), who also voted to impeach Trump and continued to stand up to him after the former president left office, was soundly defeated. Russell Fry, who was backed by Trump, even managed to trigger a runoff, as he earned 51.06 percent of the vote to Rice's 24.56 percent.
Republicans in Washington state who voted to impeach Trump are also facing primary challengers on Tuesday, including Reps. Jaime Herrera Beutler and Dan Newhouse.
Perhaps the most high profile primary race to watch when it comes to an anti-Trump Republican is Rep. Liz Cheney facing off against Harriet Hageman, who has the backing of Trump. That race takes place two weeks from now, on August 16.
Meijer is the second pro-impeachment Republican to lose a primary (four others opted to retire). With no realistic primary path for #WYAL Rep. Liz Cheney (R), there will be at most 3/10 pro-impeachment Rs remaining in the House in 2023.
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) August 3, 2022
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