Veteran state Republicans will campaign against Trump

SACRAMENTO — Now that the Lincoln Project has the nation’s attention with its ads baiting and attacking President Donald Trump, the political action committee is going grassroots.

To start, the Lincoln Project, founded by well-known conservatives late last year, is tapping veteran California Republicans to fundraise and volunteer for campaigns in a handful of states against GOP incumbents who the committee considers Trump sympathizers.

Among the 12 Californians joining the cause to make phone calls, build the network and raise some cash are Rosario Marin, treasurer under President George W. Bush, Cassandra Pye, a campaign consultant and former deputy chief of staff for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jim Cunneen, a former state assemblyman, San Diego Councilman Mark Kersey and political consultant Luis Alvarado.

Their targets include Republican Sens. Martha McSally of Arizona, Cory Gardner of Colorado, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Susan Collins of Maine.

“We’re trying to boot Trump and Trumpism,” said Lincoln Project cofounder and Sacramento-based Republican strategist Mike Madrid. “The first thing to get rid of is Trump. Then, get rid of the people who enabled him.”

The Lincoln Project is unsympathetic toward moderates, like Collins and Gardner, who, Madrid said, have failed to be the “voices of reason when faced with the toughest decisions” during Trump’s presidency.

“There are no moderates and cowards. There are only cowards,” Madrid said. “If you’re not willing to stand up to the party to protect the country, I don’t care what your political ideology is, you don’t belong in elected office.”

Pye said that as Republican leaders, there’s a shared responsibility for “the fate of our democracy.”

“I don’t want to look back on this particular moment and wished I’d done more for my community and my country. And, for my children,” she said.