Many see Tuesday’s interim results — Republicans earning smaller-than-expected gains in the House and failing to gain control of the Senate — promoting an extremist candidate who did poorly in the general election during the primary. Disappointing election results combined with Trump’s defeat to Biden in 2020 have fueled both the public and private debates about a post-Trump world.
Many of the major Republican donors are actively trying to support other candidates, and they are fed up with Mr. Trump, said Republican officials and operatives who have been in contact with other The private conversation was revealed on the condition of anonymity as well as others.
Many donors and operatives are already praising Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (Republican). DeSantis posed as a pro-Trump Republican to score his nearly 20-point victory over Democrat Charlie Christ on Tuesday night, turning Miami-Dade County upside down — in a heavily Hispanic, densely populated county. There is no Republican candidate for gubernatorial victory in his 20 years.
Other potential Republican candidates — from former New Jersey governor Chris Christie to former vice president Mike Pence to Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin — are also quieting down on what their own presidential bid will look like. I am considering it.
Mark Short, former White House Chief of Staff Pence, said: “Issues like inflation, borders and crime were clearly in our favor, but we failed to live up to expectations.” “The problem is that the problem set is still working, but there is another candidate with a different style in our favor.”
A spokeswoman for Trump did not respond to a request for comment.
Uncertainty is also looming over Republicans looking to surpass Trump. After all, Trump’s poor demeanor and call to resign on Tuesday reflected an earlier moment when Trump seemed politically doomed, only to revive himself. Arizona), a Vietnam War prisoner of war, ‘not a true war hero’ On the final day of the 2016 election campaign, the ‘Access Hollywood’ tape appeared, with President Trump crudely bragging about groping women. The state of being was projected. In the aftermath of the January 6, 2021, deadly attack, Trump, who lost his presidency, encouraged his supporters to march on the US Capitol.
Now that Trump has indicated plans to announce his 2024 campaign on Tuesday, some Trump skeptics are heeding the successful message of beating Trump in the party’s primary. concerned that it is almost close to Shishufyan.
But others, like Christie, who unsuccessfully challenged Trump in the 2016 Republican primary, say the former president’s policies are generally popular, but also easy to sell to beat him. .he.
“How about this? When Donald Trump won in 2016, he said we’d be sick of winning.” In 2018, we lost the House. We Lose the Senate and the White House: In 2021, We Lose Two Winners [Senate] Georgian parliamentary seat. And he’s well below historical standards in 2022, given inflation and gas prices, crime, and his 40% presidency. I’m tired of losing. ”
“The only win that has happened since Donald Trump became president is for Donald Trump,” Christie concluded. “That’s what you tell people.”
Republican pollster Witt Ayers says Republican voters can be divided into three main buckets. A small group of about 10% are the “Never Trumpers,” Republicans who have long been vocal opponents of Trump. A much larger group, about 40%, is “Always His Trumpers,” his hardcore bass that never abandons him.
About 50% of the rest, according to Mr. Ayres, are “maybe tampers,” Republicans who voted for him twice, who basically like his policies, but who are currently escaping the turmoil that comes with him. I am eager to
“So they’re open to supporting someone who does a lot of what they want,” Ayers said. “So the question becomes: Who is it?”
Along with DeSantis — the Republican party is currently in a frenzy — the list of hopefuls is growing. Pence’s new book, So Help Me God, is due out the same Tuesday as Trump’s expected announcement, and Pence’s aide said the former vice president could run for office sometime this spring. will be determined and will not be affected. what Trump does.
Outgoing Maryland Gov. Hogan has said he is interested in considering a 2024 run, and will hold a rally in Annapolis on Nov. 30 to talk about his accomplishments and his future. We are going to discuss.
And Biden’s 10-point victory in the 2021 state put him in the spotlight of donors. Youngkin traveled the country campaigning for Republicans in the midterm elections and expanding his base of support. At the end of September, he hosted a “Red Vest Retreat” for donors at a luxury resort outside Charlottesville.
At the retreat, former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich told the crowd that three potential 2024 candidates had stepped away from the crowd: Trump, DeSantis and Youngkin.
“There are a lot of talented people out there, but I have to say that if you’re looking at someone sending an important signal, it’s Trump, and if you’re far away, it’s DeSantis. Without the distance, it’s Jonkin,” Gingrich later said.
Other Republicans generating speculation for 2024 include Christie. Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina and former ambassador to the United Nations under Trump. Mike Pompeo, former CIA director and Secretary of State in the Trump administration. South Carolina Senator Tim Scott hinted at higher aspirations in his victory speech Tuesday night.
Scott, who is black, talked about how his grandfather voted for re-election for former President Barack Obama. “I wish I had,” said Scott. “But let’s be Republicans this time.”
Pence and Pompeo in particular have been meeting with Trump donors non-stop, said a Republican who keeps in touch with many potential 2024 candidates.
Several Trump advisers said the former president views DeSantis and Yankin as one of his most formidable political rivals and has been racking his brains over Yankin’s overly positive media for over a year. coverage. Trump believes their support was the driving force behind his victory, but he can’t thank them enough, said a person close to the president.
Bobby Kilberg, Virginia’s top Republican contributor, said he would endorse many candidates besides Trump, picking Christie and Hogan as his favorites.
“Donald Trump needs to leave,” Kilberg said. “He showed again that he basically only cares about himself and not the future of the Republican Party. If that doesn’t change, we’re going to be in a really sad situation.”
She added that she was inundated with emails from fellow Republicans after the midterm elections saying it was time for DeSantis. So I’m hearing from people saying they no longer believe Trump that he can lead the Republican Party.”
Senators Christie, Sen. Tex Cruz (R-Tex.), DeSantis, Haley, Hogan, Pence, Pompeo, Scott and Youngkin all address the Republican-Jewish Coalition annual meeting in Las Vegas later this week To do. Midterm elections for them to present themselves as an alternative to Trump.
“There’s no doubt that Trump has some hardcore supporters who will stick with him no matter what, but he may end up with Trump, but what other options are there?” There’s a group of people looking for something,” Coalition executive director Matt Brooks said, referring to the party’s top donor.
Some of the frustrations expressed by poor Republicans on Tuesday came to light after a call Wednesday afternoon with members of the committee convened by Republican National Committee chairman Ronna McDaniel. McDaniel, who spoke for about 10 minutes, claimed the election was a success because his party was on track to retake the House of Representatives, according to sources, and declined to take questions because he had a television appearance scheduled on Fox News.
In an email sent to McDaniel after the call by Bill Paratucci, a member of the Republican National Committee of New Jersey, he called her remarks “disappointing” and said he was “dealing with the reality of the situation.” Not wanting to do this is of no use to anyone.”
“You’ve worked hard for the past two years,” Paratucci said in an email obtained by The Washington Post. I am writing. “But we have to face the fact that most of our candidates and the party as a whole are inferior by objective measures.”
In an interview, longtime Trump pundit Paratucci was equally critical.
“I think we have to be honest with ourselves about the candidate who was elected, our interactions with the former president, and how our vast resources were spent or misallocated. “We didn’t have a great night…Tuesday’s results are full of implications for 2024 and it’s very clear that I have to be a party beyond Donald Trump’s personality for a long time.” And I think Tuesday night proved that.”
McDaniel replied to Paratucci’s email saying she was always open to questions and would do a “better analysis” of the results once the votes were tallied.
“I think it’s a big win to get my home back. The Senate is still on the move,” she wrote to Paratucci. “I have consistently said that I won’t use the phrase red wave because I won so many House seats in 2020 and the reorganization has left the competitive House map much smaller.”
A clear strategy to evade Trump for 2024 remains vague at best. One prominent Republican who has been in contact with both the Trump and DeSantis teams said efforts are underway among some allies to mediate an uneasy detente between the two men. said it was.
Advisers to Trump say they are surprised by the fierce backlash that has resulted from the former president’s attack on DeSantis. And while DeSantis is the frontrunner for many donors looking for an alternative to Trump, some Republicans are pushing him to postpone and are confident he will actually run. No, said one top Republican operative.
“If you shoot the king out, you’ll take damage,” the person said.
Sarah Longwell, an anti-Trump Republican strategist who regularly conducts focus groups with Republican voters, said the challenge faced by DeSantis and others was to send a former president who is still popular with most of the party. said to do. Earlier this year, when the House hearings on the Jan. 6 attacks dominated the news, when she conducted a focus group of Republicans, most voters were still not going to abandon Trump, but other candidates. She said it showed a renewed willingness to consider
“The difficult thing for DeSantis is that voters are talking about how much he resembles Trump,” Longwell said. “What they love is that he’s a fighter and he’s yelling at people. It’s very clear that the whole Ron DeSantis brand is a Trump imitation…the problem is he’s an imitation.” This is what happens when you go head-to-head with a man who is doing it.”
In the meantime, many Republicans are struggling to cope with the expected red wave of low red tide and the ankles of Democrats just barely. rice field.
“I feel like a guy with a funny compass and not knowing which way is north,” Gingrich said.
Isaac Arnsdorf contributed to this report.
