What Another Trump Run Means for the GOP

What Another Trump Run Means for the GOP

Former President Donald Trump is expected to announce Tuesday night that he will be seeking the Republican nomination for President in 2024. 

Trump, first elected in 2016, was defeated by President Joe Biden in 2020.

The big question is does the GOP want him to run, after the party's underperformance in the midterms?

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This week, GOP Rep. Mo Brooks — who had been an ardent Trump supporter in the last election — said it would be a “bad mistake” for Republicans if Trump were to be the 2024 nominee.

Moreover — Brooks called Trump “dishonest” and “incompetent.”

Brooks wasn't alone in expressing his concerns. 

“Trump’s 2024 bid gets harsh reaction among Hill Republicans,” reported CNN on Tuesday. 

According to CNN, Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson said of Trump: “Let’s see who runs. Personally, I don’t think it’s good for the party...I think his policies were good. I just don’t need all the drama with it.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is widely considered to be a GOP presidential primary contender; Trump said he "plans to reveal unflattering information about him if he runs," reported the New York Times. 

Providence College Professor of Political Science Adam Myers spoke with GoLocal about another Trump run. 

“Trump’s decision to run again means that the Republican establishment will likely have to publicly and unequivocally break with him if the party is to move past him. GOP leaders have long hoped that they could quietly push Trump aside to make room for a better standard-bearer for their party. But, up until now, they’ve consistently failed,” said Myers. “Trump has refused to go away and the GOP base has, at least so far, refused to abandon him.”

“In the wake of the midterms, a lot of Republican leaders have become somewhat more vocal in stating their opposition to Trump being the 2024 Republican nominee. But we’ve seen this play out before: after January 6, a lot of them also spoke out against Trump, but the base didn’t leave him and the leaders were eventually forced to capitulate,” said Myers. “Things might work out differently this time, but Republican elites will have to be significantly more forceful – and the GOP base will have to eventually agree with them – if Trump’s control of the GOP is really going to be over for good.”

Republicans in Rhode Island had a disappointing election cycle, taking no statewide races -- and after millions were spent linking Allan Fung to Trump in the 2nd District congressional race, which saw Democrat Seth Magaziner emerge victorious.

RI GOP Chair Sue Cienki did not respond to request for comment. 

 

New Poll Shows Two Angles

“Donald Trump’s iron grip over his party may be weakening following Republicans’ lackluster showings in the midterm elections,” reports Politico. “But as Trump prepares to plunge into another bid for the presidency, he starts as the GOP’s favorite.”

Politico continues:

“A new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll shows that 47 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents say they would back Trump if the Republican presidential primary were held today. By comparison, 33 percent said they would back Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. No other prospective candidate received above 5 percent in the poll, save former Vice President Mike Pence, who stood exactly at that figure.

But if the poll shows the clear path forward for Trump as he readies his third White House run since 2016, it also exhibits the peril ahead. Among all voters surveyed, 65 percent said Trump should probably or definitely not run again (with 53 percent in the definite camp).”