Here is Catie Edmundson at The New York Times:
…the senators were united by a common thread: Each of them, for their own reasons, was unafraid of political retribution from Mr. Trump or his supporters.
“Two are retiring, and three are not up until 2026, and who knows what the world will look like five years from now,” said Whit Ayres, a veteran Republican pollster. “It looked pretty different five years ago than it did today. All seven of them have a measure of independence that those who have to run in 2022 in a closed Republican primary just don’t have.”
Read the rest here.
My breakdown:
Ben Sasse (NE): Just got re-elected for another six year term, thus freeing-up his conscience again.
Bill Cassidy (LA): Just got re-elected for another six year term, thus freeing-up his conscience.
Susan Collins (ME): Just got re-elected for another six year term, thus freeing-up her conscience again.
Lisa Murkowski (AK): Is facing re-election in 2022. She voted out of conscience and conviction. She has everything to lose. Some reports say she may face a primary challenge from Sarah Palin.
Richard Burr (NC): Is retiring.
Pat Toomey (PA): Is retiring.
Mitt Romney (UT): Up for re-election in 2024. He voted out of conscience and conviction.
I realize that I am being somewhat cynical here. I am sure that moral conviction informed the votes of Ben Sasse, Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, Richard Burr, and Pat Toomey. But it is a lot easier to vote your conscience when you don’t have to face voters again until 2026.