A rarity: a Republican with integrity

[Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill), an Air Force veteran and lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard,] has been one of the most outspoken critics of the administration’s decision to pull troops out of Afghanistan, was one of the first in his party to recognize President-elect Joe Biden (D) as the winner of the 2020 election, slammed the president’s allegations of voter fraud on Twitter and has come out heavily against the QAnon conspiracy theory.

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While he represents a district where Trump beat Biden handily, the Illinois Republican said he doesn’t fear the possibility of facing a primary challenge from the right.

“If someone wants to primary me then do it — they've tried to do it every year. But, in my view, what matters is not whether I win or lose. Obviously, I want to win but it's can you look at yourself in the mirror,” Kinzinger told The Hill in an interview.

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“I've been through a couple primaries right and I've won pretty handsomely every time. So, yeah, that's the other thing, I’m not even convinced I'm even going to run again next year because this is what happens,” he added.

“Every cycle I make the decision, it's kind of a prayerful consideration before I have to drop petitions because I don't want to be in a position where I'm running again simply because it's my plan. And by that I mean, if I'm not the best person for the district, right?”

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[Kinzinger says] he likes “Trump personally, I think he's hilarious." But he feels the tone of the Republican Party needs to change. Kinzinger said he voted for the president in the 2020 election and agrees with a lot of what the administration has accomplished but would like to see a less divisive tone in politics.

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“I understand how politics works, and I understand that you have to be political and I'm political right, but at the same point if you're not willing to put your career on the line for a cause how can you ask 18-year-olds to do it for the country,” he said.

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“I mean we're advocating for crap now that I never would have imagined you know when Trump says he's gonna in essence recklessly pull out of Afghanistan. There's only a handful of us that even say anything about that,” he said.

“If [former President] Obama would have done the exact same thing, we'd be outraged."

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“I've been surprised by a lot of people, and, you know, I think the vast majority of members of Congress think probably like I'm talking, but they look at Twitter too much, and they see our Twitter mob and it's intimidating or they get the text messages," he added.

  The Hill

And death threats. MAGAworld is vicious.

While his commentary hasn’t sat well with everyone in the GOP, House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney (Wyo.), a fellow defense hawk, said his voice has been an asset to the party.

“I'm a huge fan of Adam — he combines a real depth of experience and knowledge on foreign policy and national security issues in particular with, you know, the courage of his convictions and, you know, he will always stand up and speak out for what he knows is right. He always tells it like it is,” she told The Hill in an interview.

That's what they say about Trump.

Kinzinger, member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus who has become known for his willingness to work across the aisle, said, “There will constantly be a fight in the party...But I think ultimately people are going to recognize the tone has to change."

Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) said he has found Kinzinger easier to work with than the majority of members across the aisle despite not always seeing eye-to-eye on policy.

“I always know that when I go to Adam I can find a reasonable voice, someone who will listen, and someone who I don't always agree with, but at least has a lot more courage than most people around here," he told The Hill.

"He's absolutely easier to collaborate with because he believes in facts and principal."