The RINO Removal Project (RRP) launched a few months ago and is gaining traction, as the group narrows in on primarying a few notorious RINOs in Congress. RRP, which follows America First principles and emerged completely from the grassroots, is going after 10 members of Congress, mostly familiar names. Leo told me, “Let’s take back charge of our lethargic Republican uniparty.”
The movement is progressing fast due to the efforts of a strong team of patriots led by Leo the Lion, aligned with some of the top conservative influencers on X. Mike Engleman, who Elon Musk often interacts with, was quoted in Mediaite in February suggesting RRP might assist with a primary challenge to Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) if he failed to vote to confirm Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence. Young ultimately voted for confirmation.
The RRP network now reaches over 19 million people. They seek to raise $5.25 million to help challengers in targeted Republican primaries. RRP uses a vetting process on primary challengers, with a thorough proprietary questionnaire and internal process.
RRP came up with its own scoring process for members of Congress. Unlike some rankings, RINOs don’t get scores in the 60s through 80s — none of the 10 scored higher than 52 out of 100.
There are 12 state chapters so far, with more expected soon. RRP is focusing heavily on three states currently through its State Surveillance Program: Texas, Georgia and South Carolina. In Texas, they are going after Senator John Cornyn, who has a score of 45, and Representative Dan Crenshaw, 42. In South Carolina, they are after Senator Lindsey Graham, 45.
One of the hottest races RPP is involved in is the Texas Senate race, where Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, considered one of the best conservative attorneys general in the country, is challenging Cornyn.
Cornyn, who is rated a moderate 86.63 by the American Conservative Union (ACU), has a lengthy history of siding with Democrats. He refused to object to certifying Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory on January 6, 2021, claiming there was insufficient evidence to overturn the election. He supported legislation two years ago that would have reduced penalties for illegal voting by requiring proof that violators knew the law, complicating prosecutions.
He played a key role in passing gun control legislation in 2022, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Even President Donald Trump called him a RINO for supporting the bill. He’s soft on illegal immigration. Paxton called him an “America Last RINO” for voting for a huge funding package for Ukraine and other overseas conflicts without including any money for U.S. border security.
Graham has an even lower lifetime score than Cornyn from the ACU, 80.87, which dipped to 55 in 2022, the last year scored. His lifetime score is even lower than his former idol John McCain, who the ACU rated 81.37.
Graham, who is being challenged by Mark Lynch, opposed pardoning the J6 protesters. Like Cornyn, he was heavily involved in getting the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act passed. He was a key member of the “Gang of Eight” in 2013, a bipartisan group that crafted a comprehensive immigration reform bill offering a path to citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants. Graham is one of the biggest backers of financial support to Ukraine.
The other members of Congress RRP is going after are Don Bacon (NE), with a score of 35, Shelley Capito (WV), 42, Bill Cassidy (LA), 52, Susan Collins (ME), 18, Joni Ernst (IA), 49, David Joyce (OH), 50 and Thomas Tillis (NC), 45.
Collins, whose lifetime rating from the ACU is only 43, voted to impeach Trump in the second impeachment trial. She co-authored the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and voted against a repeal of Obamacare. She co-sponsored a bill with Democrats that would give the federal government more control over state and local elections.
On Sunday, RRP launched a thread on X blasting Cassidy. He opposed Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for Health and Human Services Secretary due to Kennedy’s long-standing
skepticism about vaccine safety. RRP suggested challenger Dr. John Fleming instead, who is currently serving as Louisiana state treasurer. RRP explained how to win that race: “In a runoff, a MAGA/MAHA champ needs 50.1%. With Trump’s endorsement & high conservative turnout, we can hit 55-60% to END Cassidy’s career. Louisiana’s 74% GOP parishes are with us!”
RRP warned that Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry may be trying to install his own preferred candidate in that seat, Rep. Julia Letlow.
The grassroots organization is purely focused on education, voter awareness campaigns, strategically networking and partnering with other America First organizations and driving awareness to increase primary voting (GOTV). The goal is to drive voter knowledge so voters can make better decisions and increase the 14.9% turnout national primary average (based on 2008 to 2024).
RRP holds virtual town halls on X featuring challengers to the RINOs. The RRP has an America First Academy which is the official grassroots training and mobilization hub. One of its goals is to eliminate open primaries, which allow Democrats to vote in Republican primaries and choose less conservative candidates. Its PrimaryGuard effort goes over the key states where this needs to be changed, which are mostly battleground states. The RRP is forming Strategic Partnerships with like minded organizations to further get the word out.
Heavily focused on using X to get the word out, RRP’s success will reveal how powerful X is for political campaigns. More influential conservatives are expected to join the project. If Musk himself decides to get involved, it could put the effort over the top with some of the races.
Reprinted from Townhall