Anti-Trump Republicans may form new centre-right political party

Reuters reports that those involved include former Bush and Reagan officials as well as former US Ambassadors who served in the Trump administration. Over 120 people participated in a Zoom call last Friday to discuss the potential new party.

The group says that the new party would run a platform of "principled conservatism," that includes adherence to the Constitution and the rule of law, something which they claim doesn't matter to Trump or his supporters. This despite the former president's "law and order" message.

If the party is formed, it would run candidates but also endorse Republicans, independents, or Democrats in other races. Chief policy director for the House Republican Conference Evan McMullin said that he is concerned about where the Republican Party is heading under the influence of Trump.

The group also shared their distaste for how Republican politicians went along with Trump's voter fraud saga and their rejection of impeachment following the January 6th insurrection of the Capitol, which they say was incited by Trump.

Eight senators and 139 house members voted against the Electoral College certification of Joe Biden, while only 10 Republican House Members voted to impeach Trump and six Republican senators voted to proceed with the impeachment of the former president.

McMullin told Reuters that "Large portions of the Republican Party are radicalizing and threatening American democracy. The party needs to recommit to truth, reason and founding ideals or there clearly needs to be something new."

When asked about this potential third party, Trump spokesman Jason Miller said, "These losers left the Republican Party when they voted for Joe Biden." He also referred to a statement made GOP chair Ronna McDaniel "The only way we’re going to win is if we come together."

McDaniel told Fox News last month that "If we continue to attack each other and focus on attacking on fellow Republicans, if we have disagreements within our party, then we are losing sight of 2022 (elections)."

Potential names for this potential new party include the Integrity Party and the Center Right Party. There have been many previous attempts at creating new third parties, but none of them have had lasting power. These include the Reform party which Donald Trump was involved with from late 1999 to early 2000.