Who are the House Democrats backing Trump impeachment? | TheHill - The Hill

The nearly 60 House Democrats publicly supportive of launching an impeachment inquiry against President TrumpDonald John Trump Trump hits Comcast, MSNBC over 'hatred,' 'fake news' Trump hits Comcast, MSNBC over 'hatred,' 'fake news' Public support for liberal policymaking at 60-year high, survey says MORE represent a microcosm of the caucus, showing how fervor is spreading across diverse factions despite leadership's efforts to contain it.

Most of the members who support an impeachment inquiry are liberal. They include much of the Congressional Progressive Caucus leadership, as well as 17 members of the Congressional Black Caucus, whose members have long been among the most outspoken on impeachment.

Half of the members of the House Judiciary Committee, which would be charged with impeachment proceedings, already support launching an inquiry.

And while Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy Pelosi Pelosi hammers Trump on Mexico tariff deal: 'Threats and temper tantrums are no way to negotiate' Pelosi hammers Trump on Mexico tariff deal: 'Threats and temper tantrums are no way to negotiate' Members petition DNC chairman to hold presidential debate on climate change MORE (D-Calif.) is opposed to impeachment, at least 11 of her home-state colleagues have come out in favor of moving forward.

The key constituency most reluctant to push ahead with impeachment are the swing state members who helped Democrats retake their majority. So far Rep. Tom MalinowskiThomas (Tom) Malinowski The Hill's Morning Report - Trump struggles to replicate 2016 coalition The Hill's Morning Report - Trump struggles to replicate 2016 coalition Swing-state Democrats see trouble in proposed pay hike MORE (D-N.J.) is the only Democrat who flipped a GOP-held district last fall to back starting an inquiry.

The Hill’s whip list currently has 58 Democrats in support of an impeachment inquiry. Rep. Justin AmashJustin Amash Amash hits Trump and his allies: They are 'trying to excuse' his obstruction efforts Amash hits Trump and his allies: They are 'trying to excuse' his obstruction efforts The first 'pop culture' president MORE (Mich.) is the only Republican to say that Trump engaged in impeachable conduct.

About two-thirds of the Democrats publicly in favor of starting an impeachment inquiry are members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

They include the two Progressive Caucus co-chairs, Reps. Mark PocanMark William Pocan Liberals rip Democratic leaders for writing drug pricing bill in secret Liberals rip Democratic leaders for writing drug pricing bill in secret Trump recognizes Pride Month MORE (Wis.) and Pramila JayapalPramila Jayapal Overnight Health Care: Liberals rip Democratic leaders for writing drug pricing bill in secret | Dems demand answers from company that shelters migrant kids | Measles cases top 1,000 Overnight Health Care: Liberals rip Democratic leaders for writing drug pricing bill in secret | Dems demand answers from company that shelters migrant kids | Measles cases top 1,000 Delaney calls 'Medicare for All' 'political suicide' for Democrats MORE (Wash.), a Judiciary Committee member. Three vice chairs who also sit on the Judiciary Committee have come out in favor of an impeachment inquiry: Reps. David CicillineDavid Nicola Cicilline Ocasio-Cortez, Cruz lobbying ban faces tough hurdles Ocasio-Cortez, Cruz lobbying ban faces tough hurdles Hillicon Valley: YouTube to ban extremist videos | Company in firestorm over conservative commentator | Big tech braces for antitrust showdown | Study finds Russian trolls more effective than thought | Democrats want answers on medical data breach MORE (R.I.), Joe NeguseJoseph (Joe) Neguse Warren, Nadler introduce bill to allow student loan borrowers bankruptcy relief The gap in Sen. Gardner's environmental record Ocasio-Cortez unveils Green New Deal climate resolution MORE (Colo.) and Veronica EscobarVeronica Escobar Democrats fail to mollify impeachment crowd Democrats fail to mollify impeachment crowd Bannon, Kobach unveil half a mile of crowdfunded border wall MORE (Texas).

Most Progressive Caucus members represent safely blue districts and constituents more supportive of impeachment.

Progressive freshman Rep. Rashida TlaibRashida Harbi Tlaib Justice Democrats endorses seven House members' reelection bids Justice Democrats endorses seven House members' reelection bids Majority in Michigan is against impeaching Trump: poll MORE (D-Mich.) — who drew attention on her first day in office in January by pledging to “impeach the motherf----r” — introduced a resolution in late March calling for an impeachment inquiry. It now has 12 cosponsors.

“I think that at this point, it is getting to become so overwhelming that we need to uphold the rule of law and the Constitution of the United States,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez Banning former members of Congress from lobbying won't 'drain the swamp' Sweeping plans from 2020 contenders come with trillion-dollar price tags Sweeping plans from 2020 contenders come with trillion-dollar price tags MORE (D-N.Y.), a Tlaib ally, told reporters this week. “I think that the tide is turning with the public.”

One of the most vocal advocates in the House has been Rep. Al GreenAlexander (Al) N. Green A Green New Deal for global hunger Democrats fail to mollify impeachment crowd Democrats fail to mollify impeachment crowd MORE (D-Texas), who forced two floor votes on his articles of impeachment in 2017 and 2018.

The articles of impeachment from Green, a Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) member, accused Trump of stoking racial divisions in America.

“At some point we will have to say the word 'impeachment' if we're going to get to impeachment. And I hear people saying that the president should be impeached. So it shouldn't be a difficult thing to say, and hopefully we'll get to it,” Green said.

Just under two-thirds of Green’s CBC colleagues supported his articles of impeachment on the House floor in the last Congress. The bitter feelings toward Trump among black lawmakers began long before the president even took office: when he raised doubts about whether then-President Obama was born in the U.S.

And it’s only gotten worse after Trump engaged in racial controversies like casting equal blame on white supremacists and counterprotesters for the 2017 violence in Charlottesville, Va., as well as personally attacking multiple members of the Black Caucus.

“Given where the CBC historically has been with respect to this president, we have been the number one company that he rejects. We don't get invited to any meetings,” House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie ThompsonBennie Gordon Thompson House Homeland Security chairman introduces bill calling for annual domestic terror reports House Homeland Security chairman introduces bill calling for annual domestic terror reports DHS watchdog finds 'dangerous overcrowding' at Texas Border Patrol facility MORE (D-Miss.), a CBC member, said on MSNBC’s “Kasie DC.”

Thompson is one of nine Democrats endorsing an impeachment inquiry against Trump who were in office the last time the House voted to impeach a president: Bill ClintonWilliam (Bill) Jefferson Clinton 'Whitey' Bulger praised Trump in prison letters 'Whitey' Bulger praised Trump in prison letters Presidential historian: Democrats' 'conventional wisdom' on picking nominee is 'all wrong' MORE in 1998.

He’s also one of five committee chairs to call for impeaching Trump, which includes House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine WatersMaxine Moore Waters Ben Carson decries 'gotcha' politics: 'Give me a break' Ben Carson decries 'gotcha' politics: 'Give me a break' Democrats fail to mollify impeachment crowd MORE (D-Calif.), Budget Committee Chairman John YarmuthJohn Allen Yarmuth Overnight Health Care: Biden infuriates abortion-rights groups with stance on Hyde Amendment | Trump tightens restrictions on fetal tissue research | Democrats plan event to scrutinize Trump's mental health Overnight Health Care: Biden infuriates abortion-rights groups with stance on Hyde Amendment | Trump tightens restrictions on fetal tissue research | Democrats plan event to scrutinize Trump's mental health House Democrats plan event to scrutinize Trump's mental health MORE (D-Ky.), Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.).

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry NadlerJerrold (Jerry) Lewis Nadler Nadler: 'It may very well come to' opening a formal impeachment inquiry Overnight Health Care: 'Medicare for All' gets boost from high-ranking Democrat | Anti-abortion group vows to spend M in 2020 election | Dems make Medicaid center of Kentucky governor fight Overnight Health Care: 'Medicare for All' gets boost from high-ranking Democrat | Anti-abortion group vows to spend M in 2020 election | Dems make Medicaid center of Kentucky governor fight MORE (D-N.Y.), meanwhile, has been privately pushing Democratic leadership to begin an impeachment inquiry only to be rebuffed. But half of his committee’s members — many of whom are in safe liberal districts — are already on board with the idea.

“My district's been for impeachment for a long time,” said Rep. Steve CohenStephen (Steve) Ira Cohen Democrats fail to mollify impeachment crowd Democrats fail to mollify impeachment crowd The Hill's Morning Report - Trump savors British teas, tiaras while armed with Twitter MORE (D-Tenn.), who chairs a Judiciary subcommittee. “It's hard not to get there.”

California, one of the bluest states in the country, has many pro-impeachment voices.

“I think you can count members from every corner of our caucus,” Rep. Jared HuffmanJared William Huffman Nancy Pelosi fends off impeachment wave — for now Pelosi faces tipping point on Trump impeachment WHIP LIST: Number of Democrats backing Trump impeachment inquiry rises MORE (D-Calif.), who supports impeachment, said in an interview. “You're going to get a lot of Californians simply because we're by far the biggest delegation.”

The 11 California Democrats on board with launching an impeachment inquiry now doesn’t include Rep. Brad ShermanBradley (Brad) James Sherman Lawmakers reintroduce bipartisan IRS bill with 'Free File' provision removed Lawmakers reintroduce bipartisan IRS bill with 'Free File' provision removed Democratic lawmaker: 'The only thing I can get on TV to talk about' is impeachment MORE (D-Calif.), who reintroduced articles of impeachment on the first day of the new Congress in January.

Sherman said he thinks Democrats should build more public support first. “Impeachment without removal is not where I want to go,” he said.

Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-PowellDebbie Mucarsel-Powell Disinvited GOP lawmaker turns up at Dem hearing Overnight Energy: Trump moves to crack down on Iranian oil exports | Florida lawmakers offer bill to ban drilling off state's coast | Bloomberg donates .5M to Paris deal Florida lawmakers offer bill to ban drilling off state's coast MORE (D-Fla.), who flipped a GOP-held district last fall, is among the Judiciary Committee members who haven’t endorsed an impeachment inquiry. But she indicated that it’s on her mind.

“To tell you the truth I have been thinking more and more about when it would be appropriate to start the inquiry,” Mucarsel-Powell told CNN’s “New Day” on Friday.

“I've read the Mueller report. There is clear evidence that this president has obstructed justice and I think that there have to be serious consequences.”

Another freshman Judiciary Committee member, Rep. Greg StantonGregory (Greg) John Stanton WHIP LIST: Number of Democrats backing Trump impeachment inquiry rises WHIP LIST: Number of Democrats backing Trump impeachment inquiry rises Arizona Dems ask DHS to appoint 'crisis coordinator' at border MORE (D-Ariz.), won his race by more than 20 points last fall but represents a district that’s been targeted by the GOP in recent years. He’s already on board with an impeachment inquiry.

“I accept that this conclusion will be unpopular with some, but it is the right thing to do,” Stanton said.

And while the nearly 60 House Democrats publicly supportive of impeachment is still only about a quarter of the 235-member caucus, Huffman said he’s heard privately from colleagues who are more are on board than they’re letting on.

“I know the number’s higher,” Huffman said. “But many members don't want to get ahead of leadership. And so that's the delicate process that is underway.”

Mike Lillis contributed to this story.

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