Four women — including one from Texas — are running for Congress and have dubbed themselves the “conservative squad.”
This is a nod and challenge to the current “squad” in Congress, which include Democratic Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib.
Alabama congressional candidate Jessica Taylor formed the potential GOP counterpart and has released a campaign video where she criticizes Ocasio-Cortez and “socialists” like her.
Appearing on Fox and Friends Thursday morning with Taylor were candidates Michelle Fischback of Minnesota, Nancy Mace of South Carolina and Beth Van Duyne of Texas.
Van Duyne is running for a seat in Texas’ 24th District, a suburban area between Dallas and Fort Worth.
She said she was the first female mayor of Irving, and has most recently worked in President Trump’s administration under Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson.
“We really do have a Congress that’s run by extremists. It’s dangerous for America,” she said.
“We’ve seen nothing that is solving the problems at the border, where you’ve got loopholes that enable human traffickers and drug cartels to come in.”
After the interview aired on Fox and Friends, it began to make its rounds on the internet.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery 💁🏽♀️ https://t.co/heigkyBmUq
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) December 12, 2019
Rep. Ilhan Omar tweeted a clip of the conservative squad's interview saying, "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."
Socialism is the severest form of treachery. https://t.co/Z7B9FUsjmo
— Beth Van Duyne (@Bethvanduyne) December 12, 2019
Van Duyne retorted, "Socialism is the severest form of treachery."
Texas' 24th District race includes five Republicans and six Democrats in the March 3, 2020 primary.
Republican Kenny Marchant has held the seat since 2005, and is retiring with five other Texas congressmen from his party.
Bri Kirkham can be reached at bri@tpr.org or @BriKirk.
