How are GOP women responding to Trump’s comments?

Posted on by Kelly Dittmar

How are Republican women responding to the release of recorded remarks by Donald Trump in 2005 in which he disparaged and degraded women, and made reference to his ability to physically push himself upon women whom he finds attractive.  We are tracking public statements or comments from the current slate of Republican women in the U.S. Congress and will update this page as new comments are released.

Republican Women Members of the U.S. House of Representatives (22)

Diane Black (R-TN)
No public comment yet

Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
Nothing since release, but this last week:

Susan Brooks (R-IN)

Barbara Comstock (R-VA) – Pulled endorsement

Reneee Ellmers (R-NC)
Nothing since the release, but defended Trump’s 5am tweet last weekend:

Virginia Foxx (R-NC)
No public comment yet

Kay Granger (R-TX)
No public comment yet

Vicky Hartzler (R-MO)


Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA)

“For months I’ve left the door open for Donald Trump to earn my vote. That door has now slammed shut,” Herrera Beutler said in an email Saturday evening. She won’t be casting her vote for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, either. “I refuse to accept this is the best we can do. Both candidates have shown that they lack the character and temperament required for the highest office in the land and it is a sad state of affairs that these are our choices,” she said. Herrera Beutler said she will write-in a vote for House Speaker Paul Ryan, a person who would “serve this nation with honor,” she said.

Per The Columbian

Lynn M. Jenkins (R-KS)
“Donald Trump’s comments are disgusting, outrageous and wrong on so many levels. There is no place for anyone, anywhere to condone assault or promote undesired sexual advances. It doesn’t matter the place, it doesn’t matter the time – his words were offensive and backwards.”
Per CBS News

Mia Love (R-UT)

Rep. Mia Love called the video “disappointing and disgusting,” according to her campaign manager Dave Hansen. (That statement came after Love’s congressional office told 2News earlier Friday she had no comment.)
http://kutv.com/news/local/utah-lt-gov-says-leaked-video-makes-it-that-much-easier-not-to-support-trump

Cynthia Lummis (R-WY)
“Mr. Trump has rightly apologized for his disgusting, decade-old comment about women. Because he had the good sense to choose Mike Pence as his running mate I still intend to vote for him, but I will be holding my nose and repeating to myself, “Supreme Court, Supreme Court, Supreme Court” as I vote. I fear for my freedom and our Nation’s future if Hillary Clinton is appointing Supreme Court Justices and running the federal government.”

Per AP

Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)
“”I have said before that I would not hesitate to voice my disagreement with Mr. Trump when he says something that I believe should not be part of our political dialogue. It is never appropriate to condone unwanted sexual advances or violence against women,” McMorris Rodgers, who represents Spokane and is the No. 4 Republican in the House, said in a prepared statement Friday evening. “Mr. Trump must realize that it has no place in public or private conversations.” A spokesman for McMorris Rodgers did not respond Friday when asked if she still intends to vote for him.
http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/mcmorris-rodgers-condemns-trumps-remarks-but-doesnt-say-if-shell-still-vote-for-him/

Martha McSally (R-AZ)

Candice Miller (R-MI)
“There is no excuse for Donald Trump’s comments. It happens to women a lot and I am dealing with it in my current campaign,” said Miller, who has endorsed Trump as the Republican nominee for president, but is “considering” withdrawing her support.

Per Macomb Daily

Kristi Noem (R-SD)

Martha Roby (R-AL) – Pulled endorsement

Ileana Ros Lehtinen (R-FL)

Elise Stefanik (R-NY)

Asked to clarify whether she still supports Trump, a spokeperson for Stefanik’s campaign said “her statement stands,” adding, “Her words are clear.” http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/32715/20161007/as-groping-controversy-grows-stefanik-maintains-support-for-trump

Ann Wagner (R-MO)

Jackie Walorski (R-MO)
Congresswoman Jackie Walorski [R-IN2] also released a statement overnight regarding Trump’s comments. “These vile comments are demeaning and indefensible. It is never appropriate to use such offensive language toward women, anywhere or anytime.”
http://wsbt.com/news/local/rep-walorski-calls-trumps-comments-vile

Mimi Walters (R-CA)

Rep. Mimi Walters , the only female Republican in the delegation and the sponsor of the Sexual Assault Survivor’s Bill of Rights that was just signed into law, said in a statement that Trump must explain himself. “As a mother of two daughters, I condemn Donald Trump’s offensive and language about women. It was beyond inappropriate, and he needs to understand that he alone is accountable for his words and actions.”

Per Los Angeles Times

Republican Women Members of the U.S. Senate (6)

Kelly Ayotte (R-NH)

Saturday Morning: Ayotte, who’s tried to keep her distance from Trump for months and who’s said she’ll vote for the GOP nominee but won’t endorse him, said in a statement provided to NH1 News “his comments are totally inappropriate and offensive.”

Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)

Susan Collins (R-ME)

Senator Collins posted this editorial explaining why she could not support Trump in August 2016:
“I will not be voting for Donald Trump for president. This is not a decision I make lightly, for I am a lifelong Republican. But Donald Trump does not reflect historical Republican values nor the inclusive approach to governing that is critical to healing the divisions in our country.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/gop-senator-why-i-cannot-support-trump/2016/08/08/821095be-5d7e-11e6-9d2f-b1a3564181a1_story.html?utm_term=.3ebe00f4f48a

Joni Ernst (R-IA)

Deb Fischer (R-NE)

Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)