Fact check: Which Republican senators are considered RINOs by conservative groups?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, several Republican senators have been labeled as RINOs by conservative groups, primarily due to their disagreements with Donald Trump or votes that deviated from party orthodoxy:

Senators explicitly identified as RINOs:

• Sen. Pat Toomey - Called out by the Senate Conservatives Fund and specifically labeled as a RINO due to his vote to convict Trump in the second impeachment trial ^{[1] [2]}
• Sen. Mitt Romney - Accused of acting for Democrats and labeled a RINO for not supporting attacks on Biden ^[3]
• Sen. Thom Tillis - Considered a RINO by some in his party due to disagreement with Trump ^{[4] [5]}
• Sen. John Cornyn - Identified as a Republican senator considered a RINO by conservative groups due to deviation from party loyalty and Trump's ideology ^{[4] [5]}
• Sen. Bill Cassidy - Similarly labeled for deviating from Trump's ideology ^{[4] [5]}

Additional senators mentioned by conservative groups:

• Sen. Roy Blunt, Richard Burr, Rob Portman, and Richard Shelby - Called out by the Senate Conservatives Fund ^[1]
• Sen. Lindsey Graham - Described as a RINO by Trump himself after signaling disagreement ^[6]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks important context about how the RINO label functions as a political weapon. The analyses reveal that many senators labeled as RINOs actually have conservative voting records but are targeted simply for disagreeing with Trump on specific issues ^[5]. This suggests the RINO designation has evolved from ideological purity to Trump loyalty tests.

Conservative groups and Trump benefit from using the RINO label as it allows them to:

• Maintain party discipline through intimidation
• Primary challenge moderate Republicans
• Consolidate power within the party

The Senate Conservatives Fund specifically emerges as an organization actively targeting senators with the RINO label ^[1], demonstrating how outside groups influence internal party dynamics.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question appears neutral but may inadvertently legitimize the RINO label as an objective classification rather than recognizing it as a political attack term. The analyses show that the RINO designation is often applied inconsistently - senators with demonstrably conservative records are labeled as RINOs simply for occasional disagreements with Trump ^[7].

The question also doesn't acknowledge that the definition of RINO has shifted significantly in the Trump era, moving from ideological conservatism to personal loyalty to Trump ^{[4] [6]}. This evolution means that traditional conservative positions may now be considered "RINO" behavior if they conflict with Trump's preferences.