# Adam Kinzinger Former U.S. Representative for Illinois (2011–2023), six-term Republican from the suburban-rural northern Illinois district that successive Democratic gerrymanders dismantled. [[Air Force]] pilot — flew refueling and reconnaissance missions in Iraq and Afghanistan; remained in the [[Air National Guard]] during House service. ## The second impeachment and [[J6 Committee]] One of ten House Republicans to vote for the article of impeachment in the [[Trump Second Impeachment]] (January 13, 2021). Subsequently appointed by [[Nancy Pelosi]] to the House Select Committee on the [[January 6 Capitol Attack]], where he and Vice Chair [[Liz Cheney]] formed the only Republican pairing on a committee whose other Republican appointees ([[Jim Banks]], [[Jim Jordan]]) had been blocked by Pelosi over their roles in the events under investigation. ## Country First and exit from Congress Founded the *Country First* PAC in 2021 to support pro-democracy / anti-MAGA Republicans. Announced in October 2021 he would not seek re-election in 2022, citing the dismantling of his district under post-2020 Illinois redistricting and the impossibility of running a competitive primary as a Cheney-aligned Republican. ## Post-Congress Has remained publicly active as a CNN contributor (since 2023) and political commentator, consistently anti-MAGA and pro-Ukraine. Endorsed [[Kamala Harris]] in 2024. ## KB significance Kinzinger and [[Liz Cheney]] are the dyad of post-J6 Republican defectors. Cheney was the higher-ranking voice; Kinzinger was the volume — more frequent media presence, more direct online engagement. Both left Congress in January 2023 — Cheney by primary defeat, Kinzinger by retirement; both have continued to operate publicly outside elected office. The pair embodies the [[Trump Impeachments Timeline]] meta-pattern of defection survival outside the GOP rather than within it. ## Related - [[Trump Second Impeachment]] - [[Trump Impeachments Timeline]] - [[January 6 Capitol Attack]] - [[Liz Cheney]]