45 Q Anon supporters are running for congressional seats in next year’s mid-term election.
Seriously.
But it gets worse.
Hoping to join them are fellow Trumpistas who participated in the January 6 domestic terror attack on the Capitol intending to violently subvert the constitutional process of certifying states’ electoral votes.
In Pennsylvania, Teddy Daniels is running to unseat Rep. Matt Cartwright.
While at the Capitol on January 6, Daniels tweeted a video boasting, “I Am Here. God Bless Our Patriots.”
I am here. God bless our patriots. pic.twitter.com/RBqNoQkyC2
— Teddy Daniels for Congress (@DanielsCongress) January 6, 2021
About that act of domestic terrorism in which he was complicit, he claimed:
“January 6 was a coverup of the November 3rd liberal coup to overthrow the government and steal the election from President Trump.”
Disgraced former Trump administration National Security Advisor Michael Flynn has endorsed Daniels, who has reportedly palled around with Trump this summer at Trump’s Bedminster, NJ golf club.
A frequent guest on Fox so-called “news,” Daniels has described his opponent as a “candyass”.
Next we turn to New York, where Tina Forte is hoping to take down Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Forte also descended on the Capitol that fateful day and livestreamed some videos.
BREAKING: @RealTina40 and dozens of Trump supporters unveil artist Scott LoBaido’s latest artwork of Nancy Pelosi tearing up the Constitution on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. #SaveAmericaMarch pic.twitter.com/IRixHn2f9s
— Mike Carter (@MikeCarterTV) January 6, 2021
According to fact-checking site Snopes, Forte “entered a restricted area after the crowd knocked down barriers that law enforcement installed.”
Interesting outfit at the hotel bright and early on Jan 6. I thought that jacket looked a little puffy. pic.twitter.com/5TfjMNwyEn
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) July 13, 2021
In Wisconsin, Trump- and House minority leader Kevin McCarthy- endorsed Derrick Van Orden, whom the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) once labeled an “insurrectionist,” is running for an open seat.
About January 6, he claimed in a La Crosse Tribune op-ed:
“When it became clear that a protest had become a mob, I left the area as to remain there could be construed as tacitly approving this unlawful conduct. At no time did I enter the grounds, let alone the building.”
But a deep dive from The Daily Beast reveals Van Orden entered a restricted area during the riot.
New Hampshire’s Jason Riddle is running for the state’s second congressional district against Democrat Ann Kuster despite pleading guilty in September to five charges stemming from illegally entering the Capitol.
Once in there, he swigged a bottle of wine found in a lawmaker’s office.
Congress is not the only place January 6 terrorists are planning to infect.
Several are running for state government.
Ryan Kelley is running for Michigan governor.
As Bridge Michigan reported:
“Ryan Kelley climbed on scaffolding, helped a man moving a police barricade and repeatedly waved fellow protesters toward the Capitol riots in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6.”
Fellow accomplice Jason Howland is running for Michigan state legislature.
Packing government with Trump toadies is a strategy that could ultimately end in the coup that could see Donald Trump in the White House again–for life.
It nearly worked in January.
Speaking on Democracy Now! about the grip on the GOP Trump has over the republican party, John Nichols, national affairs correspondent for The Nation, said:
“We really are looking at the prospect that Trump will seek to implement exactly the strategy that he was trying to implement before January 6 again in 2024.”
Elections matter.
If they didn’t, people like Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and those who seek to emulate her wouldn’t be so dangerous.
When Democrats vote, Democrats win.
When they don’t, people like the aforementioned are elevated to positions of great power.
Then what?
Do we really want to find out?
Image credit: 100daysinappalachia