Conservative voters must actively participate in GOP primaries to remove RINOs who betray conservative priorities
Source: Shawn Fleetwood. "Primary Season Gives Conservatives The Chance To Oust RINOs." March 3, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
The author argues that conservative Republican voters need to stop being lazy about primary elections and start voting out the fake Republicans who keep blocking conservative policies. He says if conservatives don't get involved in primaries, they'll keep getting stuck with politicians who promise conservative things but then vote like Democrats.
Conclusion
Conservative voters must actively participate in Republican primary elections to remove RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) who consistently block conservative priorities
Premises
- Republican voters' routine apathy to the primary process has permitted RINOs to hijack the party and stonewall conservative priorities
- RINOs in solidly Republican states are blocking popular conservative legislation like the SAVE America Act despite having voter support
- Republican officials in red states have sabotaged conservative efforts on redistricting, medical freedom, and other conservative-backed policies
- The 2026 primary season provides a concrete opportunity to challenge incumbent RINOs with more conservative alternatives
- Being a citizen requires active engagement with government and holding elected officials accountable when they stray from their pledges
- Continued neglect of primaries will allow the status quo of RINOs betraying their constituents to continue unabated
Assumptions
- There is a clear distinction between 'true conservatives' and 'RINOs'
- Conservative voters constitute a significant enough bloc to win primaries if mobilized
- Primary challengers will be more faithful to conservative principles than incumbents
- Conservative policy positions have broad support among Republican voters
- The primary process is an effective mechanism for ideological accountability