House GOP Leaders Advise Members: Cease Race-Related Remarks About Harris
Leadership advised lawmakers in a private meeting to concentrate on the vice president’s record rather than her race.
TroibNews 
House Republican leaders instructed lawmakers to focus their criticisms on Vice President Kamala Harris' record, steering clear of remarks about her race and gender, in light of recent derogatory comments from some Republicans that targeted her identity.
During a private meeting on Tuesday, Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) and other GOP campaign leaders urged this approach following a series of comments from GOP members that highlighted Harris' race and suggested she was chosen for diversity reasons, according to two attendees.
In the 48 hours since President Joe Biden opted out of the presidential race, Republican leaders have concentrated their critiques on Harris’ border management and her decision to skip Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s congressional address.
However, some Republicans deviated from this focus. On Monday, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) labeled Harris as a “DEI vice president,” and Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) speculated if her support from Democrats was due to her ethnic background. If Harris is nominated, she would be the first Black and South Asian woman to be a major party candidate.
“This should not be about personalities. It should be about policy. And we have a record to compare,” Speaker Mike Johnson told POLITICO as he exited the Tuesday meeting, emphasizing that Harris should address Biden’s record. “This has nothing to do with race. It has to do with the competence of the person running for president, the relative strength of the two candidates, and what ideas they have on how to solve America's problems. And I think in that comparison, we'll win in a landslide.”
Some Republicans are privately upset about remarks emphasizing Harris’ race, believing it redirects negative attention to the GOP instead of highlighting Democratic missteps.
One House Republican, speaking anonymously, criticized those who referred to Harris as a DEI pick and urged them to cease such comments.
“We have everything going our way and you just can’t handle that?” this member added. “We’ll give you a cheat sheet if you don't know what else to talk about.”
Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), chair of the Main Street Caucus, argued that Republicans should base their campaign on Harris’ job performance rather than making personal allegations.
Meanwhile, some within the GOP are pushing back against their colleagues. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) introduced a second impeachment resolution against Harris on Tuesday, though it has received criticism and follows a previous failed attempt. Conservatives are also urging investigations into Harris and suggesting Cabinet officials invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Biden, but these efforts are largely dismissed by other Republicans.
Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio), a former aide in Donald Trump’s administration, expressed opposition to such investigations and emphasized focusing on Harris’ record instead.
Many Republicans are openly acknowledging that their efforts to impeach Biden are likely at an end. Miller suggested redirecting resources to more promising efforts, as any substantial claims against Biden would have already emerged.
House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.), who has led the impeachment inquiries, stated he is finished with his part of the investigation and sees no need to subpoena Harris or involve her in further proceedings.
“I feel like we’ve done our job. … Our part of the report has been finished for a long time. They can publish it or not — I guess things change if he’s not running again,” Comer said.
The sentiment of moving on from impeachment is widespread within the GOP. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) supported the strategy of focusing on Harris given Biden’s decision not to run.
“I think Republicans’ best strategy is introducing Kamala Harris to the world,” she said.
Dusty Johnson, when questioned about impeaching or investigating Harris, indicated that priorities such as appropriations should take precedence.
Not everyone agrees with this approach. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) have introduced resolutions to invoke the 25th Amendment, albeit with minimal support.
Centrist Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) acknowledged that these resolutions lack the necessary backing and emphasized the reality that impeaching Biden is not feasible. Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) also viewed the 25th Amendment proposals as ineffective.
House GOP leaders are instead considering a resolution condemning Harris’ management of border issues, led by Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), which seems more likely to gain broad support within their narrow majority.
Following their meeting, GOP leaders continually linked Harris to Biden, hinting at their strategy moving forward.
“She's still the sitting vice president, but she's also been the architect of many of President Biden's worst failures,” Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) told reporters.
Criticisms of Harris extend to her stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict, particularly her decision to skip Netanyahu’s address, which Republicans argue is disrespectful to a key ally and insensitive to the families of Israeli hostages.
“Not attending is a slap in the face to all these families,” Bacon added.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
During a private meeting on Tuesday, Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) and other GOP campaign leaders urged this approach following a series of comments from GOP members that highlighted Harris' race and suggested she was chosen for diversity reasons, according to two attendees.
In the 48 hours since President Joe Biden opted out of the presidential race, Republican leaders have concentrated their critiques on Harris’ border management and her decision to skip Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s congressional address.
However, some Republicans deviated from this focus. On Monday, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) labeled Harris as a “DEI vice president,” and Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) speculated if her support from Democrats was due to her ethnic background. If Harris is nominated, she would be the first Black and South Asian woman to be a major party candidate.
“This should not be about personalities. It should be about policy. And we have a record to compare,” Speaker Mike Johnson told POLITICO as he exited the Tuesday meeting, emphasizing that Harris should address Biden’s record. “This has nothing to do with race. It has to do with the competence of the person running for president, the relative strength of the two candidates, and what ideas they have on how to solve America's problems. And I think in that comparison, we'll win in a landslide.”
Some Republicans are privately upset about remarks emphasizing Harris’ race, believing it redirects negative attention to the GOP instead of highlighting Democratic missteps.
One House Republican, speaking anonymously, criticized those who referred to Harris as a DEI pick and urged them to cease such comments.
“We have everything going our way and you just can’t handle that?” this member added. “We’ll give you a cheat sheet if you don't know what else to talk about.”
Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), chair of the Main Street Caucus, argued that Republicans should base their campaign on Harris’ job performance rather than making personal allegations.
Meanwhile, some within the GOP are pushing back against their colleagues. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) introduced a second impeachment resolution against Harris on Tuesday, though it has received criticism and follows a previous failed attempt. Conservatives are also urging investigations into Harris and suggesting Cabinet officials invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Biden, but these efforts are largely dismissed by other Republicans.
Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio), a former aide in Donald Trump’s administration, expressed opposition to such investigations and emphasized focusing on Harris’ record instead.
Many Republicans are openly acknowledging that their efforts to impeach Biden are likely at an end. Miller suggested redirecting resources to more promising efforts, as any substantial claims against Biden would have already emerged.
House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.), who has led the impeachment inquiries, stated he is finished with his part of the investigation and sees no need to subpoena Harris or involve her in further proceedings.
“I feel like we’ve done our job. … Our part of the report has been finished for a long time. They can publish it or not — I guess things change if he’s not running again,” Comer said.
The sentiment of moving on from impeachment is widespread within the GOP. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) supported the strategy of focusing on Harris given Biden’s decision not to run.
“I think Republicans’ best strategy is introducing Kamala Harris to the world,” she said.
Dusty Johnson, when questioned about impeaching or investigating Harris, indicated that priorities such as appropriations should take precedence.
Not everyone agrees with this approach. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) have introduced resolutions to invoke the 25th Amendment, albeit with minimal support.
Centrist Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) acknowledged that these resolutions lack the necessary backing and emphasized the reality that impeaching Biden is not feasible. Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) also viewed the 25th Amendment proposals as ineffective.
House GOP leaders are instead considering a resolution condemning Harris’ management of border issues, led by Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), which seems more likely to gain broad support within their narrow majority.
Following their meeting, GOP leaders continually linked Harris to Biden, hinting at their strategy moving forward.
“She's still the sitting vice president, but she's also been the architect of many of President Biden's worst failures,” Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) told reporters.
Criticisms of Harris extend to her stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict, particularly her decision to skip Netanyahu’s address, which Republicans argue is disrespectful to a key ally and insensitive to the families of Israeli hostages.
“Not attending is a slap in the face to all these families,” Bacon added.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
