It was only the second political contribution Sarah Carr had made in her life. A $100 gift to an obscure politician from a distant state whose values hardly align with her own.

But Carr, a 41-year-old marine scientist who lives on Capitol Hill, had a clear goal: she wanted to support anyone who might oust Utah Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz.

She’s among a growing contingent of Washington, D.C., residents who have targeted Chaffetz as the chief tormentor to their claims at sovereignty. And she was willing to cross party lines to do it.

“Now I can go back to Chaffetz and say, not only am I upset about this, but I want to give voice to your opponent to talk about what you are doing,” Carr said.

The movement for District home rule has inspired an unusual political alliance. Residents in liberal D.C. are supporting a Utah conservative. They have determined that only a Republican could have a shot at ousting Chaffetz in Utah’s ruby red 3rd District.