At Least Seven Republicans Present At Jan. 6 Capitol Protest Were Elected To Office On Tuesday

On January 6, 2021, a large mob of protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol after a speech by former President Donald Trump. Out of these protesters present at the “Stop the Steal” rally, which led to a deadly insurrection, at least seven of them have been elected to office this week. Three were elected to state legislatures, and five were elected to local positions.

A year after a divisive election followed by a violent and racist insurrection, it is clear that race and racism continue to play a major role in our politics and is among the main reasons the Virginia gubernatorial contest is as close as it is, regardless of the outcome.

— Errin Haines 😷🧼🧴💉 (@errinhaines) November 1, 2021

According to the Huff Post, at least 57 Republican officials present at the January 6 protest will face reelection this upcoming year. Aside from those running for reelection, there were at least 16 Republican members of state houses or assemblies, seven city council members, six county commissioners, four state senators, three school board members, two mayors, two state GOP chairs, two prosecutors and a state attorney general among others.

Most Republicans present on January 6 deny ever entering the Capitol building, or participating in anything other than the rally that led to the insurrection. Matthew Lynch, a former teacher in Braintree, Massachusetts, who lost his job due to a picture shared on the internet of him standing outside the Capitol during the insurrection, has won a seat on the Braintree school board.

Former Mass. teacher who was forced to resign due to attending Jan. 6 rally (no evidence showed he broke any laws), wins school board election. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/rXGGvmyJsz

— SpokenTruthRevolution (@spokentruthrev) November 4, 2021

Despite the violence at the January 6 riot, and the legal action that many of those present faced, there are a good number of Republicans who participated who have not been asked to step down from their positions, such as, Dave LaRock of Loudoun County, Virginia and John McGuire of Goochland County, Virginia.

The other Republicans who were elected this Tuesday include Marie March, a Virginia restaurant owner, Natalie Jangula of Nampa, Idaho, Christine Ead of Watchung, New Jersey, Susan Soloway of Hunterdon County, New Jersey, and Charles Ausburger of Mansfield, Connecticut.

John McGuire @JohnMcGuire4VA posted a selfie on Jan 6th but failed to mention just how close he was to the violence happening. Running for re-election to the Virginia House of Delegates District 56 @mimms #Virginia pic.twitter.com/Xuvithdyeo

— SeditionHunters (@SeditionHunters) October 28, 2021