House agitator Rep. Matt Gaetz is being primaried

MSNBC ^ | April 30 | By Clarissa-Jan Lim

[RandFan]

Rep. Matt Gaetz, whose successful maneuvering to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year plunged House Republicans into chaos — and made the Florida Republican deeply unpopular among his GOP colleagues — is facing a primary challenger in his re-election bid.

Retired Navy aviator Aaron Dimmock filed to run against Gaetz just ahead of the deadline on Friday. According to The New York Times, the treasurer for Dimmock's campaign committee also works for American Patriots PAC, a McCarthy-aligned group that in 2022 helped elect Republicans who were aligned with the then-speaker's agenda.

Gaetz called Dimmock a “BLM supporting DEI instructor” and McCarthy’s “puppet” in a post on X on Monday.

“I’m excited to welcome Missouri-based DEI instructor Aaron Dimmock to the campaign," he told NBC News in a statement. "Aaron is not in Kansas City anymore. This is Trump Country. Our pronouns are USA and MAGA.” (Dimmock listed a Missouri driver’s license as his identification in his filing, per NBC News.)

In October, eight House Republicans, including ringleader Gaetz, joined Democrats in voting for a motion to vacate McCarthy's speakership. His ouster set off havoc among the House GOP as it scrambled for weeks to elect another speaker.

As NBC reported, four of the six House Republicans who voted for McCarthy's ouster and who are also up for re-election are now facing a primary fight: Reps. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Bob Good of Virginia, Eli Crane of Arizona, and Gaetz.

[nathanbedford]

Gaetz' forensic skills are not to be underestimated. He deftly played whack-- a--mole, smiting one challenger after another in his prosecution of the motion to vacate speaker McCarthy. It was one against all when Gaetz stood virtually alone against many establishment Republicans, emerging unscathed, at least unscathed as judged by those considering his rhetorical skills rather than the outcome.

He's long been known as a bomb thrower in House committee hearings and has earned a reputation as dangerous when on the hunt.

At a time when we have an asymmetrical media battlefield in which to plead our case to the electorate, we need every single voice that can penetrate. Gaetz offers a nimble mind and a sharp tongue. Oh and by the way, he is right on nearly all the issues.

[Cen-Tejas]

America needs about 200 more Matt Gaetz types in the US House of Representatives.

[Rockingham]

Gaetz will win handily and be politically strengthened by the failure of the challenger against him.

[Freest Republican]

After thinking this over for a bit and discussing with friends-

they’re lighting money on fire.

MAGA record in FLA House races is stellar.

Gaeztz is in the top five most popular GOP in the country.

In true Kevin form, this is as likely or more likely to benefit us via contrast with the Den stooges masquerading as GOP>