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Congress hasnt even been in session a month and a raft of Republicans are already being threatened with primaries in 2016.

The reasons run the gamut, from backing John Boehner for speaker to objecting to an anti-abortion bill. One congressman is under fire for failing to amass clout that would help his district on a key issue. Its the latest proof that divisions within the GOP are very much alive, despite the triumph of the establishment GOP wing over the tea party in last years midterms.

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Since the new Congress kicked off Jan. 6, more than a half-dozen Republican congressmen and senators have drawn potential challengers from the right an unusual level of intra-party electoral strife this early in the campaign season. Many of the incumbents have reputations as solid conservatives lawmakers like North Carolina Rep. Renee Ellmers, who was elected on the tea party wave of 2010, and Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran, who oversaw the partys Senate campaign arm in the midterms but have nonetheless drawn the ire of tea party adversaries.

A few of the potential challengers are mulling repeat bids after losing in 2014, betting that growing voter discontent with incumbents will put them over the top in two years. Many of the primary campaigns are almost certain to fizzle once the reality of what it takes to dethrone a sitting lawmaker sets in. Regardless, its a rude awakening for a Republican establishment that hoped it had put insurgent challenges to rest.

There is an unprecedented level of disquiet, said Daniel Horowitz, who has worked as a political strategist for tea party groups. Theres a sense that the Republicans in Washington dont share the beliefs of the conservative platform, or dont fight for them.

Democrats have comparatively fewer divisions, despite being in the minority in both chambers of Congress. In party circles, theres little talk about primaries.

The most serious potential Republican primary race is in North Carolina, where Ellmers has come under ferocious criticism on an issue of central importance to conservatives: abortion. Jim Duncan, chairman of the Chatham County Republican Party, is said to be considering challenging Ellmers following her successful push to stop the passage of an anti-abortion bill that she criticized as too stringent. It required a rape victim to report an assault to authorities in order to qualify for an exemption from the bills restrictions on abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

The problem for others is their perceived closeness with Republican leaders deemed too moderate by tea party activists. After Georgia Rep. Doug Collins, a sophomore, cast his vote for Boehner, a local radio host named Al Gainey said he was considering a primary campaign. The same goes for Pennsylvania Rep. Bill Shuster, the powerful chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, who also backed Boehner for another term as speaker. Within days, Art Halvorson, a wealthy real estate developer, and Travis Schooley, an Army veteran, said they were weighing rematches against Shuster after falling short against him in 2014.

Bill picks party over principle, Schooley said. Hes in Boehner and Co.

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They're back! The new tea party surge