Politics in Washington usually follows a predictable script. You know how it goes: one side digs in, the other side pushes back, and everyone stays in their lane. But everything changed after January 6, 2021. For a brief, chaotic moment, the partisan walls actually cracked.
When the dust settled on the second impeachment, we saw something we hadn't seen in the first one—Republicans actually crossing the aisle to vote against a president of their own party. In the first impeachment back in 2019, the GOP was a monolith. Not a single House Republican voted for those articles. But the second time? That was a different story entirely.
Honestly, it's kinda wild to look back at the names now, especially considering how many of them have been pushed out of the party or chose to walk away from politics altogether.
The House Ten: Breaking the Rank
Ten House Republicans decided they’d seen enough. That’s not a huge number in a chamber of 435 people, but in today’s hyper-polarized world, it felt like an earthquake. These weren't just backbenchers, either.
Liz Cheney was the big one. She was the No. 3 Republican in leadership at the time. When she released that statement saying there had "never been a greater betrayal by a President," you could almost hear the collective gasp in DC. She didn't just vote; she became the face of the anti-Trump wing of the GOP. We all know how that ended for her—a massive primary loss in Wyoming and a new life as a prominent critic on the outside.
Then you had guys like Adam Kinzinger from Illinois. He was already leaning into the "maverick" role, but this vote sealed his fate. He didn't even bother running again in 2022. He basically saw the writing on the wall.
The full list of the House 10 is a mix of moderate veterans and people who just felt a line had been crossed:
- Liz Cheney (Wyoming)
- Adam Kinzinger (Illinois)
- John Katko (New York)
- Fred Upton (Michigan)
- Jaime Herrera Beutler (Washington)
- Dan Newhouse (Washington)
- Peter Meijer (Michigan)
- Anthony Gonzalez (Ohio)
- Tom Rice (South Carolina)
- David Valadao (California)
It’s worth noting that David Valadao and Dan Newhouse were the only ones who really survived the immediate political fallout. Valadao somehow managed to hang onto his seat in a tough California district, and Newhouse stuck around until recently. Just a few days ago, in early January 2026, Newhouse finally announced he wouldn't seek reelection, ending a decade-long run.
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The Senate Seven: A Different Kind of Pressure
The Senate is supposed to be the "cooling saucer" of American democracy. When the trial moved there, seven Republicans joined every single Democrat to vote "guilty." This was actually the most bipartisan impeachment conviction vote in U.S. history, even though it fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to actually convict.
Mitt Romney was the only one who did it twice. In the first impeachment, he was the lone Republican to vote guilty on one of the charges. By the second one, he had company.
Lisa Murkowski from Alaska and Susan Collins from Maine weren't huge surprises. They’ve always carved out their own paths. Murkowski is interesting because she actually won her reelection in 2022 despite the vote, proving that Alaska’s independent streak is still very much alive.
Then you had the retirees. Richard Burr (North Carolina) and Pat Toomey (Pennsylvania) were already on their way out. They didn't have to worry about a primary challenge from the right, which probably gave them some "political cover," as they say in the hallways of the Capitol.
The seven who voted to convict:
- Richard Burr
- Bill Cassidy
- Susan Collins
- Lisa Murkowski
- Mitt Romney
- Ben Sasse
- Pat Toomey
Bill Cassidy was a bit of a curveball for some. He’s a conservative from Louisiana, but he said the evidence was just too overwhelming. Ben Sasse eventually left the Senate to become a university president, moving away from the political fray entirely.
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Why It Still Matters in 2026
You might be wondering why we're still talking about votes from five years ago. Well, it's basically defined the Republican party's internal struggle ever since.
Most of these names are gone from office. They were replaced by "America First" candidates or, in some cases, Democrats. The "Impeachment Republicans" became a shorthand for a version of the GOP that barely exists in leadership anymore.
When you look at the political landscape today, the courage—or betrayal, depending on who you ask—of these seventeen individuals is the lens through which many voters view party loyalty. It wasn't just a vote; it was a career-defining (and often career-ending) moment.
What happened to them?
The "purge" was pretty efficient. Trump went on a revenge tour, endorsing primary challengers against almost everyone on this list.
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Tom Rice in South Carolina got absolutely crushed in his primary. Peter Meijer, a freshman at the time, lost to a challenger who was later defeated by a Democrat. It's a textbook example of how a single vote can completely flip a safe seat.
Actionable Insights: How to Track These Shifts
If you’re trying to keep up with how the GOP is evolving, looking at these specific names is a great place to start.
- Watch the Primaries: Whenever one of the remaining "impeachers" (like Valadao) runs, look at the margin of victory. It tells you exactly how much the "MAGA" influence is holding in that specific region.
- Follow the "Post-Politics" Careers: Many of these folks, like Kinzinger and Cheney, are still active in the media. Their influence has shifted from making laws to shaping public opinion.
- Check the Voting Records: For the few who are left, see if they’ve moved closer to the party line or if they’re still acting as the "moderate" wing. Often, they’ve had to tack right to survive.
Understanding which republicans voted to impeach trump isn't just a history lesson. It's a map of the current divide in American politics. Whether you see them as heroes of the Constitution or traitors to the party, their names are etched into the record of one of the most volatile eras in the country's history.
Keep an eye on the upcoming 2026 midterm cycles; the legacy of these votes is still playing out in local town halls and national headlines alike.