AP

AP: Democrats in Trump country cautious about impeachment

Sep 27, 2019, 3:32 PM

trump country...

FILE - In this Nov. 30, 2018, file photo, then Rep.-elect Xochitl Torres Small, D-N.M., reacts after drawing her number during the member-elect room lottery draw on Capitol Hill in Washington. Torres Small has had to walk a fine line in her sprawling district in New Mexico’s border region, which has traditionally voted Republican. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

(AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Democrat Kendra Horn surprised even her own supporters in 2018 when the first-time candidate eked out a victory in an Oklahoma City congressional district that had been in Republican hands for nearly four decades and had voted heavily for Donald Trump in 2016. But now the impeachment drive against the president has put her and others like her in a tight spot.

She opposes an impeachment inquiry at this time, Horn spokeswoman Chacey Schoeppel said Thursday, but she will listen to the facts and “go through them methodically.”

As of Friday morning, an Associated Press survey of most of the House Democrats showed six as either not supporting or undecided on the inquiry that was announced this week by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The six represent an extraordinarily small share of the 235 Democrats in the House. And Pelosi doesn’t need them to move ahead with an investigation.

But they illustrate the insecurities of those Democrats who managed to get elected from Trump country.

All the holdouts hail from districts that President Trump won handily in 2016 and that the Republicans are targeting as they try to win back the House in 2020. Most of the six weighed in after the explosive whistleblower complaint against the president became public Thursday.

Horn’s margin of victory in 2018 was just 1.4 percentage points in a district that Mr. Trump won by nearly 14 points.

“She’s a smart politician. That’s why she’s being cautious,” said University of Oklahoma political science professor Keith Gaddie. “Horn’s seat is the No. 1 most competitive Democrat-held district in the U.S. right now.”

Other Democrats who have joined Horn in opposing the impeachment inquiry into the president’s attempt to enlist Ukraine in digging up dirt on his rival Joe Biden are Reps. Collin Peterson of Minnesota and Anthony Brindisi of upstate New York.

Democrats who responded to the AP as “undecided” were Reps. Jared Golden of Maine, Ben McAdams of Utah and Xochitl Torres Small of New Mexico.

“I think we have allegations and news reports right now, and I’m not going to jump to any conclusion until all the facts come out,” said Brindisi, whose district President Trump won by 16 points.

Torres Small has had to walk a fine line in her sprawling district in New Mexico’s border region, which has traditionally voted Republican.

“Xochitl Torres Small has to be careful not to be painted as a liberal Democrat who just signs on to anything that let’s say Nancy Pelosi supports,” said veteran pollster Brian Sanderoff. “She exhibits caution, which is smart politically and probably more reflective of at least half of her district.”

Collin Peterson, the lone Democrat in Minnesota holding out against the impeachment push, called the process a waste of time.

He has represented a huge swath of northwestern Minnesota for nearly 30 years, and his powerful position as chairman of the House Agriculture Committee adds to his appeal to the district’s rural and agricultural base. Mr. Trump won Peterson’s district by 30 points.

“If anyone thinks a partisan impeachment process would constrain President Trump, they are fooling themselves,” Peterson said in a statement. “Without significant bipartisan support, impeachment proceedings will be a lengthy and divisive action with no resolution.”

McAdams, a moderate Democrat who flipped a suburban Salt Lake City district in deeply conservative Utah last year, said Thursday he wants more information before deciding on whether to support impeachment proceedings.

Rep. Conor Lamb, a freshman whose Pennsylvania district stretches from some wealthy Pittsburgh suburbs through hardscrabble steel towns, initially was “undecided” on a formal impeachment inquiry but shifted Friday and issued a statement that avoided the words “impeachment” and “Trump.” President Trump won Lamb’s district in 2016, but it has since been redrawn.

“Congress must continue our work to get the truth,” Lamb read. “I fully support the House Intelligence Committee’s inquiry, and I believe that at each step of the way we must follow the evidence where it leads.”
___

Associated Press writers Doug Glass in Minneapolis; Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Lindsay Whitehurst in Salt Lake City contributed to this report.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Today’s Top Stories

AP

close up of a peleton bike pictured, a recall has been issued for some...

Associated Press

Peloton recalling more than 2M exercise bikes because the seat post assembly can break during use

The recall includes approximately 2.2 million of the Peloton Bikes Model PL01. The bikes were sold from January 2018 through May 2023 for about $1,400.

11 months ago

Immigration Asylum Family Reunification Explainer....

JULIE WATSON Associated Press

US will let in at least 100,000 Latin Americans to reunite with families

President Joe Biden's administration has promised to offer more legal options for Latin American migrants to come to the United States to be reunited with their families.

11 months ago

two border patrol agents pictured, agents are dealing with a surge as title 42 reaches its expirati...

Associated Press

Title 42 has ended. Here’s what it did, and how US immigration policy is changing

The end of Title 42's use has raised questions about what will happen with migration preparing for an increase in migrants.

11 months ago

Rumman Chowdhury is pictured, she is the coordinator for the mass AI hacking exercise...

Associated Press

Hackers aim to find flaws in AI – with White House help

No sooner did ChatGPT get unleashed than hackers started “jailbreaking” the artificial intelligence chatbot – trying to override its safeguards so it could blurt out something unhinged or obscene. But now its maker, OpenAI, and other major AI providers such as Google and Microsoft, are coordinating with the Biden administration to let thousands of hackers […]

11 months ago

Parents of Ema Kobiljski, 13, mourn during the funeral procession at the central cemetery in Belgra...

JOVANA GEC Associated Press

Burials held in Serbia for some victims of mass shootings

Funerals are taking place in Serbia for some of the victims of two mass shootings that happened in just two days, leaving 17 people dead and 21 wounded, many of them children.

11 months ago

interest rate...

DAVID McHUGH AP Business Writer

Europe’s inflation inches up ahead of interest rate decision

Europe's painful inflation has inched higher, extending the squeeze on households and keeping pressure on the European Central Bank to unleash what could be another large interest rate increase.

11 months ago

Sponsored Articles

close up of rose marvel saliva blooms in purple...

Shannon Cavalero

Drought Tolerant Perennials for Utah

The best drought tolerant plants for Utah can handle high elevations, alkaline soils, excessive exposure to wind, and use of secondary water.

Group of cheerful team members high fiving each other...

Visit Bear Lake

How To Plan a Business Retreat in Bear Lake This Spring

Are you wondering how to plan a business retreat this spring? Read our sample itinerary to plan a team getaway to Bear Lake.

Cheerful young woman writing an assignment while sitting at desk between two classmates during clas...

BYU EMBA at the Marriott School of Business

Hear it Firsthand: 6 Students Share Their Executive MBA Experience at BYU’s Marriott School of Business

The Executive MBA program at BYU offers great opportunities. Hear experiences straight from students enrolled in the program.

Skier being towed by a rider on a horse. Skijoring....

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking for a New Winter Activity? Try Skijoring in Bear Lake

Skijoring is when someone on skis is pulled by a horse, dog, animal, or motor vehicle. The driver leads the skiers through an obstacle course over jumps, hoops, and gates.

Banner with Cervical Cancer Awareness Realistic Ribbon...

Intermountain Health

Five Common Causes of Cervical Cancer – and What You Can Do to Lower Your Risk

January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness month and cancer experts at Intermountain Health are working to educate women about cervical cancer.

Kid holding a cisco fish at winterfest...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Get Ready for Fun at the 2023 Bear Lake Monster Winterfest

The Bear Lake Monster Winterfest is an annual weekend event jam-packed full of fun activities the whole family can enjoy.

AP: Democrats in Trump country cautious about impeachment