We are less than 120 days away from the 2022 midterm elections, nevertheless, the media, political analysts, and pundits are interestingly talking about the 2024 presidential contest. In a normal election year, the incumbent president would exhaust their use of the bully pulpit, even in the face of an average 24-seat loss historically. But President Biden is nowhere to be found, giving Republicans an even greater opportunity to flip control of Congress with momentum headed into 2024. That makes calls for President Biden to step aside all the more plausible. However, all eyes are rightfully on the 2024 Republican Party primary given the strong bench of conservative contenders. So of the 2024 hopefuls, which Republicans are leading the pack? Let’s take a look.
History would lend that the vice president of the party that lost reelection would be the automatic frontrunner. Vice President Mike Pence is looking more and more likely to announce a campaign for Commander in Chief. Since leaving the Oval Office, Pence has visited Iowa, the first in the nation caucus, three times, twice in 2021 and this past April as he endorsed a slew of candidates throughout the Hawkeye State. However, his approval rating remains in unfavorable territory as Real Clear Politics average of recent polls taken in June finds Pence with a 38% favorable to 49% unfavorable rating among registered voters and his apparent rift with President Trump could hurt him if not carefully repaired.
In addition to Pence, other former Trump administration officials are also eyeing the White House. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is often mentioned given his success overseas with the elimination of ISIS from Iraq and Syria, and the Abraham Accords that brought Muslim nations to the table with Israel and the U.S. and reached peace agreements, something that has evaded presidents of both parties for over thirty years. Nikki Haley is another cabinet official making headlines and has been friendly to her former boss Trump.
A number of members of Congress including Rand Paul (R-KY) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) the latter who battled deep into the primary in 2016 are likely to throw their hats in the ring. Cruz has clearly shown he has the conservative bonafides to be a contender and is polling mid-pack.
President Trump clearly currently leads the Republican field, having won poll after poll when matched up with other Republicans. His share of the vote is more than twice any other likely candidate. A crowded field likely favors Trump, with no other candidate able to consolidate enough support to upend him. However, when Trump is not on the ballot, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) is emerging as the party’s preferred alternative to Trump. Could there be some opportunity for the two to combine powers? Relations remain good between the two powerhouses as President Trump recently complimented DeSantis’s leadership in Florida.
A June 2022 Harris/Harvard University poll found that Governor DeSantis is the most popular Republican in America, with a +6 favorability rating among Republican registered voters. The same poll found that Trump leads the pack among GOP voters, garnering 56% support with DeSantis far behind with 16%. However, when Trump is not on the ballot, the same poll shows that Governor DeSantis is the “clear runner up” receiving 36% support followed by Vice President Pence with 17%.
The media will try again to portray the Republican primaries as a cannibalistic implosion of the party, rest assured. Hopefully Republicans will likely be wise enough to avoid giving Democrats ammunition for the general election as they battle it out in the primary. Meanwhile, Democrats, who should be lined up and ready to use their bully pulpit to their advantage, are now wondering if Sleepy Joe will even step up to the plate, and they are seemingly jockeying to be the viable replacement to Biden should he choose not to seek re-election in 2024. All the Republican hopefuls should be speaking to this fact publicly, while the party continues to line up a strong bench of presidential contenders offering a number of solid conservative choices for American voters.
Who is your preferred choice for 2024? Let us know in the comments below.
Bob Carlstrom is President of AMAC Action
Here is the great thing if you are a Trump lover like me and any good Christian! It doesn’t matter who the other competitors are in the GOP primary. Trump will destroy them all on day one, before there are even any debates. I hope Desantis is smart enough not to run; Trump will wipe the floor with him. I love that Trump is already pointing out that Desantis was NOTHING before Trump endorsed him. He is sending the warning signals, folks!! Don’t even bother running unless you want to become a stain on the floor.
Maybe Desantis will be allowed to be Trump’s running mate if he asks very nicely…. but look what happened with Pence. Trump got him to completely swear his allegiance, no questions asked, but Pence crossed him anyway. If I were Trump I would NOT trust anyone who wanted to be my running mate!
Former President Trump outworked all of other presidents and his opponents and did more for our Country than any other presidents.
Lets get real. At the moment any true conservative wins 2-3 primaries, CNN will go beserk.
There are many solid repub candidates. Why are we having this conversation ? The democrats have no candidates.
Desantis , Hawley, and Pompeo are all solid candidates. And there are others.
Again this is a worthwhile conversation. The choices among dems is a useless conversation,
There are none.
DeSantis is by far the best choice. He can unite ALL Republican voters and the independents. I voted for Trump twice but he won’t get nearly as many independent voters as DeSantis will and we need independents to win convincingly.
Lmaooo, all these conservatives out of their minds.
Mike Pence?? HAHAHAHA, well, he couldn’t give America 10 days of a committee made up of 5 senators, 5 members of the house and 5 members of SCOTUS to investigate the massive number of allegations of voter fraud that had already surfaced by Jan 6 and people think he could give America 4 good years? HA! Well, he would need an appropriate running mate, maybe Liz Cheney or Adam Kinzinger, or Michelle Obama. They are certainly in the same class as Pence. But all we are suffering now is because Pence couldn’t give U.S. those 10 days.
Trump and DeSantis would be a rock star ticket, then DeSantis for 8 years. But thanks to Pence’s actions they know they can get away with vote fraud so who knows if we will have actual elections anyway.
Unfortunately Mike Pence is a Rhino
The GOP needs to educate the minorities and bring the thieving democrats up on treason charges, insider trading, and impeachment charges. Or are we surrounded by a bunch of Rhino looking out for there own political career and checkbook. We need patriots running. Successful business owners that have Christian values.
they could put a conservative Labrador retriever on the ticket and I would vote for he/she. I have one that’s smarter than these #$%%$^libs.
I liked Trump, but I don’t think he deals that well with the Liberals. I can’t handle another four years of the Dems chasing Trump. Nothing will get done. I really like DeSantis. He stands up to the Progressives in a way that Trump just wasn’t able to. DeSantis is a rock star! If he actually runs, he’s got my vote!
Marco Rubio!
Ted Cruz would be an excellent addition to the SCOTUS if he wants it. History had proven that Senators make lousy POTUS. Just look at Joe.
I love President Trump and I am so angry at the cheating and manipulating of votes. I watched the facts gathered by Sydney Powell and believed. I have also watched “2000 Mules”, and believe the, in my opinion, indisputable evidence of ballot harvesting, ballot box stuffing, etc. I still burn when I remember how Chief Justice Roberts would not allow the Supreme Court to judge Ms. Powell’s evidence. I sincerely believe Donald Trump won the 2020 election by a landslide. I want him to get the chance to correct the damage done by the Biden/Obama/Soros administration. I want my legally elected president to finish his term in 2024 and Ron DeSantis in 2028. I love Senator Cruz, but would rather see him on the Supreme Court. That said I consider Mike Pence in the same backstabbing cadre that has Romney, Cheney and the rest of the RINO’s. I would not vote for him unless he was actually running against someone such as Schumer, Hitler or old Nick himself!
Trump-DeSantis 2024. This will be an unbeatable ticket. President Trump is the only candidate that strikes fear in the Marxist Democrats. Look whomever is the Republican nominee they will go after them with a vengeance no different than President Trump. With that said. Stop worrying about what the Marxist Democrats will do and let’s take back our country now!!!!!!!
Trump’s highly successful and highly attended rallies , post presidency , are all anyone needs to see that he’s , by far , the most popular Republican for 2024 . All the other Republicans are fine . But they have not been able to draw the crowds that the Don has .
Even the existing President can’t draw any crowds ! I would suspect that the only Republican besides Trump who could draw large crowds to a rally would be DeSantis . But Floridians want to keep him . And, DeSantis will still be young in 2028 & 2032 . I really do like ALL the possible Republican hopefuls . We’re blessed to have such wonderful people on our side . But , i also think that we all feel that we have some unfinished business that has to be attended to . It’s clear that the 2020 election was stolen and we all know that that has to be undone . I sense , that many of us are chomping at the bitt for chance to take back America from those who stole it . We must put them down .
I would definitely vote for Pres Trump again! Despite his personality issues, he did what he said he’d do, America First! It’s a shame his accomplishments have been overshadowed by the Dems relentless campaign against him! I like Desantis for VP or Pompeo. Desantis has shown he’ll stand up for the people on domestic issues, and Pompeo has already proven his prowess on the international stage. Either would be a great pic for VP IMO.
Donald Trump is our preferred candidate for President; Of the remaining four, We would list them as: 2nd Choice Ron DeSantis, 3rd Ted Cruz, 4th Rand Paul.
We would not vote for Pence at all. His previous actions of disloyalty speak loudly. He’s not trustworthy.
I like Mike Pence, but I’m afraid he was fatally damaged politically due to his failure to even try to expose the voter fraud in 2020. I like Ted Cruz, but he is too loyal to compete with Trump – he will support Trump if he chooses to run, and would make a good VP. Ron DeSantis is still desperately needed in Florida, and should not run. Mike Pompeo and Nikki Haley are both still second string, and might make good VPs, but not president. So I will stick with Trump for president and whoever he chooses as VP.
I feel that a candidate very close to President Trump and fully endorsed by him would really have a better chance of winning independent voters and maybe even some democrats wanting to get away from the far left policies of the current administration.
This person would not be carrying the baggage that has been (unfairly in most accounts) been laid upon the former president.
It is a shame that he and his former vice president did not end with that kind of relationship.
Someone maybe even as close as Donald Junior himself might make a stronger ticket. Same ideals same strength fully supported, but without the luggage.
I think Jan 6 hurt Trump. I don’t believe he was behind what happened- but even his own son called and asked him to speak out publicly against it, and he waited too long. Fake News never gives the real facts and still says that 9 people died in the violence. Only Trump supporters died that day; the others were days later and were health related or suicides, which would be mental health related. ( We watched an anti -Trump individual in January claim on Fox News, I believe, that he and friends of his wore MAGA hats, but on backwards to identify each other, and planted themselves in the crowd to encourage the people to keep moving towards the Capitol. This uprising had more than just Trump supporters involved.) We need a President who is willing to make us energy independent again and who values all life from conception to the grave, but the Democrats hate Trump so much that they are nothing but evil hypocrites- there is much more proof of the Bidens and corruption involving Ukraine and yet they wasted years and millions of taxpayer dollars to involve Trump in that and other issues such as collaborating with Russia, but Hillary also gets away with every scandal she has ever been involved in. However, I still say Desantis, who is not afraid to speak out and yet with more class than Trump, and Tim Scott of SC.
Trump 2024
Please don’t refer to Pence as anyone who is good for this country, he is a rino and fake Christian who is also a traitor, Him and Cheney belong at GTMO
Sorry, but isn’t Rand Paul an Independent? I think if Trump runs we will see the Dems cheating like they did in 2020. Right now they are using taxpayer funds to fill seats in the election offices in every state. Check your county election offices for who will be counting your votes.
I feel Donald Trump should run as president with Ron DeSantis as vice president, that way we can have 4 years of Trump and 8 years as DeSantis..that would be a winnings ticket..
Nikki Haley
Trump and DeSantis (Cruz in 3rd) are the only ones polling above 25%, the rest barely register. 2024 is still too far away to worry about now, midterms first. Besides, I heard climate change will kill us all before then… The earth ends. What’s this… the fourth or fifth time we die?
Ron DeSantis
Ronald
The MSM and dems did so much damage to Trump. January 6th was the final nail. I just can’t see him winning in 24. Trump had the right policies and was moving US in the right direction.
I was a great fan of Ron Pauls but I’m an even bigger fan of Rand. Here is a guy that is willing to fight for conservative principals.
I think Jim Jordan is up and coming as well.
I like President Trump( I like saying that) He is my president. Second pick would be Ted Cruz.
I agree 100% with Momcat, I will take Trump/DeSantis even tho he’s doing a great job in Florida!
Pence, the rino is a non-starter & an establishment fixture like Romney, so no, nope, never. Cruz had been my choice before, but has made some oddball leftist, woke statements recently. Rand Paul would be a good choice. DeSantis is perfect, however, he’s doing a fantastic job in Florida, I hate for him to leave. I personally want Trump back & they can let him stay in office forever.
I have a great appreciation for what Trump accomplished when he was in office. However, he seemed like he hardly knew who to trust and had such a turn over off staff. On the other hand, he is polarizing, even within his own party. He would be good if he didn’t have to publicize everything and talk so arrogantly about himself. I don’t like the idea of Florida losing their exceptional Governor. Rand Paul and Ted Cruz already made attempts. I don’t think Pence has any chance due to his connection to Trump and Jan. 6. Perhaps Pompeo and Rand Paul.
Elizabeth Price says it perfectly! Best candidate – Governor DeSantis.
DeSantis, too many would still vote for anyone that isn’t Trump although Trump did great things. Trump is still my favorite but sadly his tweets and comments turned many against him as they weren’t looking at his work but focusing on his “rants”. DeSantis would play better with the anti-Trumpers.
TRUMP/DeSantis…Then DeSantis after he serves as VP. Trump will get our economy back on track, & has the proven record, whether you like him or not…he won’t bow to politics or money…like other Dems & Republicans…TRUMP is FOR AMERICA & THE FUTURE OF AMERICA!
DeSantis, Trump is over and too divisive
As a Floridian, I’d hate to give up DeSantis as governor of our fine state, but think he could repair the damage Biden and the left have done in our nation. I am praying that the House and Senate gets packed with “cooperative” red delegates in 2022! Trump did what he could in his term, but believe he was for such a time at that… now new blood.
President Trump is my choice!
DeSantis is who I think can repair the damage of the last few years. I admire everything Trump accomplished but I feel he is too derisive to bring our country back together. I would like to see him operating behind the scenes as “The Republican Kingmaker “ and working to expose the deep state.
I would love to see a Trump/DeSantis ticket. Then DeSantis can run on his own 4 years later. My biggest fear is that they fight for the top spot and bloody each other up.
Rick Desantis and Tim Scott( VP )
Trump! we don’t need politicians.
Just wondering who would be able to win Florida without diminishing Governor Desantis’ accomplishments? I’ve seen no names listed in these comments by proponents of Desantis 2024 to take over the great work he is doing for Floridians on behalf of America. Along the same line, does Kentucky have another Rand Paul to send to the U.S. Senate should he throw his hat in the 2024 ring?
Trump
I would gladly vote again for Trump but only if he learns to focus on getting his agenda completed and QUITS commenting and blasting every little and/or big Democratic negative comment. Dems poke a stick and instead of staying focused and ignoring them, he snarls and snaps and won’t let go. Ron De Santos would be equally attractive and a lot calmer and able to ignore the sticks being poked or commenting and forgetting the stick.
I’m conflicted on this. It is absolutely vital that we boot the Democrats out of power for a long time. We need to convince Democrat voters and independents to come on board with us. Unfortunately, too many voters foolishly vote on a candidate’s personality rather than accomplishments. Trump’s egotistical boasting is a turnoff for some. Of course, I’ll vote for him should he receive the nomination but I’m thinking someone a bit more humble like DeSantis would be preferable.