Rep. Jason Chaffetz, not taken when he learned about Americans for Self-Rule. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Ever since Lynette Craig was introduced at the Hands Off D.C. Meeting as the person starting a political action committee to get Jason Chaffetz out of Congress, she says people keep finding her on Facebook.

“People in Utah, lots of people who live in Chaffetz’s district—dozens of people have hunted me down on Facebook,” says Craig. “There’s no lack of energy surrounding this at all.”

She joined forces with three others to start “Americans For Self-Rule.” The homepage has a picture of Chaffetz with the text “We didn’t elect this guy.”

The Utah Republican has earned the ire of the District through his role as the chair of the committee charged with oversight of D.C., a perch he uses to try and block city laws that allow medical aid in dying and make it illegal to discriminate against people for their reproductive choices. Even before ascending to the chair, he went after D.C.’s medical marijuana program and same-sex marriage.

None of these attempts have been successful, and Washingtonians have flooded his phone lines to voice their anger.

“I got really frustrated with politely asking and demonstrating to get Congress to listen to us,” says Craig, a former Utahn who still has connections in the Beehive State. She previously helped found D.C. Moms for Gun Safety. “I decided the best way to go about this would be to ask D.C. to put their money behind the cause.”

There’s a precedent for this. In November, grassroots organization Not Your District PAC targeted then-Congressman John Mica (R-FL) with digital ads. “D.C. residents don’t get a vote in Congress, but you do,” the ad voiceover said. “So I’m asking you to tell John Mica, ‘You’re Fired.'”

Mica lost his race, while Chaffetz won his district in 2016 with more than 73 percent of the vote. But a recent town hall meeting in Cottonwood Heights, Utah was filled with boos and jeering.

For now, Americans For Self-Rule is focusing on Chaffetz, who Craig calls a “despot.”

But she says that ultimately, the goal is larger than Chaffetz. “We hope this turns into something larger that can use to fight for D.C. sovereignty,” says Craig. “We’re ready to create a road map that will take us through the next few years and go after anyone who acts tyrannical.”

They have both a Super PAC arm, which cannot coordinate with other candidates, and a PAC, which can. “We have a board that is pretty experienced in these kinds of things,” she says, adding that while would-be challengers to Chaffetz have already contacted her, she has declined to speak with them so far.

Evan McMullin, a former independent candidate for president who has emerged as a critic of the Trump administration, “insinuated he might throw his hat in the race, so we just want to be really thoughtful before we start dumping money anywhere.”

“Initially we need to do analysis,” she continues. “We want to make sure we’re being very careful. If necessary, we’ll market test. We want to analyze where the dollars will go.”

So far, the overhead in launching has been so low because “it’s been 100 percent volunteer at this point,” says Craig.

In addition to the fundraising arm, Americans For Self-Rule envisions an advocacy piece for people in D.C. to take part in, like phone banking. More than 100 people signed up at the Hands Off D.C. meeting, Craig says. “It’s been a whirlwind.”