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NC Republicans Threaten Tillis’s GOP Funds after Same-Sex Marriage Vote

March 3, 2023

Grassroots Republicans will prevent an incumbent U.S. senator from accessing any party funds during a primary challenge because of his vote to redefine marriage, if the state party approves their proposal. This week, two of the 12 Republican senators who voted for the so-called Respect for Marriage Act faced massive backlash from their party’s base.

Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) could experience a statewide censure from the North Carolina Republican Party for his support of the bill, which requires states to recognize any marriage legally contracted in any other state — a de facto national redefinition of marriage. Tillis has already earned the censure of roughly one-third of the county GOP chapters statewide, according to Reuters.

Stripping Tillis of party funding could even the balances if the state party agrees to the measure and a socially conservative primary opponent enters the race.

The news comes just days after the Tama County Republican Central Committee censured Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and fellow Iowa Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson for voting to pass the “Respect for Marriage” Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law last December. The censure says their votes violate the Republican Party of Iowa’s platform, which states:

“We believe that traditional, two-parent (one male and one female), marriage-based families are the foundation to a stable, enduring, and healthy civilization. Therefore, public policy must always be pro-family in nature, encouraging marital and family commitment, and supportive of the parental rights and responsibilities. We encourage the repeal of any laws allowing any marriage that is not between one natural man and one natural woman.”

 “In line with the [f]aith and [r]eality with respect for all Judeo-Christian ethics, that are endowed to us by our Creator we affirm the following: ‘Only marriage between one man and one female’” the censure states.

The motion made the organization the 16th county GOP to censure Ernst over her vote to redefine marriage, according to a list compiled by The Iowa Standard. Others who have faced backlash for voting for the measure include Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.), as well as Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) and Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas).

Ben Johnson is senior reporter and editor at The Washington Stand.