Since Donald Trump was elected, Rep. Martha McSally has voted to protect Trump and his political appointees from scrutiny while obstructing efforts to overturn Citizens United and stop the flow of dark money into politics, a review of her voting record showed.
McSally, R-Ariz., now running for an open Senate seat against Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, has even boasted that she votes with Trump more than any other Arizonan in Congress.
âMy voting record is there. Politicians can say things, but my voting record is 97 percent with President Trump, OK?â McSally said at a June campaign rally, according to audio obtained by the American Ledger. âThe most of anyone in Arizona delegation — anyone in the House or the Senate — and I have a very close relationship with him.â
McSally voted repeatedly against forcing Trump to release his tax returns, against barring government contracts with Trump-owned entities and against requiring Trump to follow conflict-of-interest rules.
McSally also voted against legislation against preventing administration officials from taking charter and first-class flights and against protecting whistleblowers who disclose improper travel.
A recent Kaiser poll illustrated the potential peril of embracing an administration embroiled in scandal, finding that corruption in Washington was the most important issue to a plurality of voters — 30 percent. Health care was the next most important at 27 percent, followed by the economy and jobs at 25 percent.
Still, McSally has consistently voted against measures to prevent large amounts of dark money from pouring into elections.
When Democrats tried to bring up a bill, the DISCLOSE Act, to shine a light political ad spending, McSally voted no. She wouldnât even support debating the bill.
That move could protect her supporters as much as Trumpâs.
In August, The Daily Beast reported that a DefendArizona, a super PAC supporting her campaign, received two separate $100,000 contributions from two entities that were created just weeks earlier.
The Campaign Legal Center said it was possible the contributions were illegal âstraw donationsâ meant to hide the true sources of the funds.
McSallyâs votes to keep the heat off Trump and his administration have dovetailed with her evolution on Trump personally.
After the 2016, election she wouldnât say whether she voted for him and during the campaign said she was âappalledâ by him.â
After the release of the âAccess Hollywoodâ video of him boasting about grabbing womenâs genitals and kissing them against their will, McSally posted on Twitter: âTrump’s comments are disgusting. Joking about sexual assault is unacceptable. I’m appalled.â
Earlier this year, though, she said he was a role model.
When a New York Times reported asked if he was a role model, she responded: âI think he is, yeah. I mean, look, everybody has got their strengths and weaknesses.â
When asked whether she would campaign with him, she said, âSure, absolutely.â