We’ve told you about establishment Republican David Kochel and his influence within the Republican Party of Iowa before. For those unfamiliar, you can read about Kochel’s history here.
Kochel cannot stand President Donald J. Trump. He also could not stand Congressman Steve King. He could not stand candidates who believed in traditional marriage. He proclaimed himself a Never Trumper. He suggested Trump coordinated with Vladimir Putin and speculated it was “treasonous.”
Kochel describes himself as the “most pro-LGBTQ Republican you’ll find.”
He was Mitt Romney’s Iowa guy, and then Jeb-exclamation mark’s Iowa guy. He reportedly worked with Gov. Kim Reynolds on her speech in response to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address.
Earlier this month he lamented the fact that Trump-impeacher, Rep. Peter Meijer, lost his re-election bid to John Gibbs. Gibbs was backed by Trump. Meijer was supported by establishment Republicans.
Kochel wrote on Twitter:
“If Meijer loses, congrats to the so-called ‘party of democracy’ for carrying the election denier’s water and spending huge for him. Assholes. Hypocrites.”
That tweet was in reference to complaints from Meijer that Democrats spent money to get Gibbs the victory because they believe Gibbs will be an easier candidate to beat.
Meijer referred to Gibbs as “election-denying” as well.
Kochel clearly doesn’t like “election deniers.”
Kochel told The Hill that Trump’s desire to talk about “the past” is not what “almost every Republican” on the ballot wants to talk about.
“It just really gets in the way of what’s working right now for Republicans,” Kochel said.
He told the Washington Times there is room for someone like Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who was a big-time COVID lockdown governor and has publicly said he will not vote for the Republican nominee for governor in his home state, to run for President in 2024.
Kochel said that President Trump is “completely out of step” with the GOP and America when it comes to Putin.
And he is of course already cautioning that the social conservative “base” of the GOP is “definitely ahead of where the voters are in wanting to restrict abortion.”
According to the Bharat Express News, Kochel said he is hearing more and more that “there is fatigue in many ordinary activists” when it comes to President Trump.
“They are done with the drama and ready for a candidate with a clean slate,” Kochel said.
For what it is worth, Kochel predicted in 2018 that Congressman Steve King would not be on the ballot in 2020 when asked. He blasted King over and over while propping up Randy Feenstra in his challenge.
Meijer bragged that he was the first incoming freshman to recognize Biden’s “presidential victory.” He also bragged he is the only freshman in history to impeach a President of his own party.
Meijer didn’t lose because Democrats spent money on Gibbs, he lost because he’s a moderate/establishment Republican who voted to impeach President Donald J. Trump.
Many of the Trump-impeachers have lost re-election. Some are not even bothering to run for re-election. It’s unlikely more than two or three will survive re-election.
It’s their fault, not the fault of Democrats or conservatives. It’s theirs.
Kotchel is also a buddy of Liz Cheney. Birds of a feather…