- Chip’s Act: One of the key House Republicans to watch in the coming weeks is Texan Chip Roy, who is positioning himself as one of the hardest-line conservatives heading into a Biden impeachment inquiry and government shutdown standoff. Much as he did during January’s speaker’s vote, Roy might stir up trouble for Kevin McCarthy—so much so that last week within the world of McCarthy loyalists, Roy’s name was spoken with audibly clenched teeth.
But what makes Roy a fascinating figure within the House is that Democrats actually like the guy. Among members and staffers, alike, the regard is almost always conveyed in a sheepish manner, but much of it goes back to the fact that Roy voted to certify Biden’s election in 2021. Also: while House Dems largely accuse their Republican colleagues of pandering to the base, many believe that Roy actually believes in what he’s doing, no matter how repellent they find the policies or tactics. To be sure, there are likely Democrats who will never be at ease with some of Roy’s choices. And some of this affinity is likely based in a bit of schadenfreude as Democrats watch how Roy is often at the center of causing a ruckus for McCathy. But I’ve seen it register across the spectrum of the House Democratic caucus.
