Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT) is facing serious heat from Utah conservatives after his past support for anti-gerrymandering initiatives that effectively handed Democrats political advantages - and now a strong primary challenger is making him pay for it.
Utah state Rep. Karianne Lisonbee is taking Moore to task for his leadership role in passing Proposition 4, an anti-gerrymandering measure that she argues has led to "pro-abortion" Democrats likely seizing control of another House seat. This is exactly the kind of RINO behavior that has Republicans asking: whose side is Blake Moore really on?
While Moore may have thought he was taking the "principled" high road, the reality is that his anti-gerrymandering stance has real consequences for conservative representation. In an era where every House seat matters for advancing President Trump's America First agenda, why would any Republican voluntarily give Democrats an advantage?
Primary Challenge Heats Up
Lisonbee isn't pulling punches in her criticism of the incumbent. She's pointing out what should be obvious to any conservative: when you support measures that help Democrats win seats, you're not helping the Republican cause - you're hurting it.
"Blake Moore's leadership on anti-gerrymandering has directly contributed to putting more pro-abortion Democrats in power," Lisonbee's campaign messaging suggests, according to reports.
This primary fight highlights a bigger issue within the GOP: the divide between establishment Republicans who want to appear "above politics" and conservatives who understand that politics is about winning - and using every legal advantage to advance conservative principles.
With Trump back in the White House and Republicans controlling government, this is not the time for GOP members to be handing Democrats easy victories. Utah voters deserve a representative who will fight for conservative values, not one who makes it easier for liberals to gain power.
The question Utah Republicans need to ask themselves: do they want a representative who helps Democrats win seats, or one who fights to keep conservative voices strong in Congress?