WASHINGTON — Before deciding if she’ll vote for Donald Trump, Martha McSally says she’ll spend time “determining what kind of man he is.” Mia Love says some comments by the presumptive Republican presidential candidate need “some sort of explanation,” while Renee Ellmers backs him because he’s “a problem solver.”
McSally, Love and Ellmers are Republican members of the House, among five GOP congresswomen facing competitive re-election races whose reactions highlight the hard choices Trump’s provocative statements are forcing on his own party.
Each of the five must confront a question with political and personal implications: Will you support your party’s standard-bearer, knowing his history of comments about women that many consider offensive? Trump has called some women a “dog,” a “fat pig” or “flat-chested,” republished a tweet dubbing Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly a “bimbo” and accused likely Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton of using “the woman’s card” to win votes.
“I think it puts all women in an awkward position,” Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., a leader of the House GOP campaign committee, said of Trump’s impact on female Republican lawmakers. “And I want to see that tone and temperament changed.”
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U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, who endorsed Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for president early in the race, told The Columbian in April she wasn’t sure that “the right person for the job” was running for president. Last week, she seemed more open to the idea of supporting presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump, but still voiced concerns.
“There’s a long time between now and November for Donald Trump to clarify where he stands on these issues, present a positive and inclusive vision for this country and unify the party,” Amy Pennington, the congresswoman’s spokeswoman, said in a statement.
Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, also has some questions for the candidate, specifically regarding his previous support for the use of eminent domain to condemn private property and about his stance on universal health care. She also said his comments about Mexico sending rapists to the U.S. didn’t “sit well” with her. Herrera Beutler’s great-grandparents on her father’s side emigrated from Mexico.
—Lauren Dake
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., the House’s top-ranking GOP woman, said last week she is voting for Trump though “not exactly” with enthusiasm and “vehemently” opposes his remarks about women, the disabled and others.
For the five GOP women fighting to preserve their House careers, the perils are obvious. Rejecting Trump could alienate his energized supporters, jeopardizing needed votes. Embracing him might cost support from women, Hispanics and others he’s angered with incendiary comments and invite criticism for backing a man who has repeatedly insulted their own gender.
