7 Republicans most likely to challenge Trump in 2024

(The Hill) – All eyes are turning to quite a few Republicans to see which rising stars and notable voices would possibly resolve to tackle former President Trump in 2024.

Though Trump formally introduced a 3rd run for the White House earlier this month, the disappointing midterm outcomes for the GOP, which included Trump endorsees who struggled to cross the end line in their respective races, has solely inspired different Republicans to make their very own presidential bids.

Here’s a take a look at seven Republicans most likely to challenge the previous president in the subsequent election cycle:

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) 

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida speaks throughout a marketing campaign rally on Nov. 7, 2022, in Hialeah, Fla.

Though DeSantis was seen as a likely 2024 challenger even earlier than the midterms, Republicans noticed his reelection in Florida — by a whopping 19 factors over Democrat Charlie Crist — as a silver lining in a usually robust slew of elections for Republicans.

The Florida governor, greatest identified for going head-to-head with the Biden administration over COVID-19 restrictions and stoking the tradition wars in opposition to firms like Disney, has evaded questions on whether or not he’ll run in 2024. But over the weekend, his remarks advised he isn’t shying away from a bid.

“In times like these, there is no substitute for victory. We in Florida are the light. Freedom will reign supreme with Florida leading the way,” DeSantis stated Saturday at a Republican Jewish Coalition assembly, later including, “We’ve accomplished more over a four-year period than anybody thought possible, but I can tell you this: We’ve got a lot more to do, and I have only begun to fight.”

While Republicans say DeSantis is buoyed by his profitable gubernatorial reelection, GOP strategist and former Trump marketing campaign alum Brian Seitchik additionally famous that “he has a very favorable legislature. So he’s able to try to pass legislation that will play well in primaries and in a general election.”

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley listens throughout a news convention in Allentown, Pa., Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022.

Haley has additionally present hints of 2024 presidential aspirations and made her presence throughout the midterms very clear as she stumped for candidates like New Hampshire GOP Senate hopeful Don Bolduc and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R).

“And if Biden succeeds in getting back in the Iran deal, I will make you a promise. I’ve said it before. The next president will shred it on her first day in office,” Haley stated to applause throughout the Republican Jewish Coalition assembly.

A former ambassador to the U.N. and a former two-term South Carolina governor, Haley is lauded in Republican circles for her spectacular résumé. But some members of the social gathering counsel Trump’s 2024 presidential bid complicates the prospects of candidates like Haley and others who labored in Trump’s administration and is perhaps considered as “Trump-adjacent.”

“That’s the problem some of these Trump-adjacent candidates have. [Mike] Pompeo, [Mike] Pence. Some of these people — I mean they were in his administration. So why would someone choose you … when they could choose Trump?” stated GOP strategist Scott Jennings. 

Haley has beforehand stated that she wouldn’t run if Trump mounted a bid in 2024, telling The Associated Press in 2021 that she’d discuss to the previous president about it. But Haley’s teasing out attainable aspirations counsel she won’t stick to that plan.

Former Vice President Mike Pence

Former Vice President Mike Pence sits for an interview with the Associated Press, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, in New York.

Pence has additionally attracted hypothesis of a 2024 White House bid as he’s made journeys to states like Iowa and New Hampshire. The launch of his new memoir has solely added to questions on his political future, whereas he’s made hints in passing about what would possibly come subsequent. 

“He gets to run on a record of what he did as the vice president as part of the administration and decisions that were made. But at the same time, he can say ‘I’m a kinder, softer, gentler kind of candidate for president,’” stated Republican strategist Saul Anuzis.

Anuzis stated whereas the fallout between Pence and Trump following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot  might complicate whether or not some members of the social gathering help the previous vp, he advised that may not play as a lot an element amongst mainstream Republican activists.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo addresses an viewers at a periodic “Politics and Eggs” gathering at Saint Anselm College, in Manchester, N.H., Sept. 20, 2022.

A former Kansas congressman, a former CIA director and a former secretary of State below the Trump administration, Pompeo has teased presidential ambitions and has been snug taking oblique swipes at his earlier boss. Like Haley, Pompeo would come to a attainable White House bid with overseas coverage expertise. 

Seitchik stated that Pompeo was “certainly qualified for the job” but in addition famous that the previous secretary of State “doesn’t have a natural fundraising base. He doesn’t have a natural electoral base.”

“I’m not sure if he has that ‘it’ factor that I think is required in today’s modern politics,” he added.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) 

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaks to supporters as he attends a marketing campaign rally on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in Westchester, N.Y.

Youngkin made headlines in 2021 when he gained the Virginia governor’s race in opposition to former Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), making him the primary Republican in greater than a decade to flip the seat pink. The former non-public fairness government has additionally waded into the tradition wars — most notably on the problem of vital race principle throughout his run in the gubernatorial election — but in addition sought to venture himself as a unifier amongst totally different coalitions of his social gathering throughout the midterm elections.

He campaigned with Republican gubernatorial nominees like Kari Lake in Arizona, Tim Michels in Wisconsin and Joe Lombardo in Nevada. “I think that the Republican Party has to be a party where we are not shunning people and excluding them because we don’t agree on everything,” Youngkin stated on CNN’s “State of the Union” final month.

“Youngkin is a solid conservative who won in a quintessential swing state that is still kind of leaning purple or blue even,” stated Anuzis. “He showed how you can deliver a conservative message without being, you know, edgy and confrontational, while still addressing some of the confrontational and controversial issues that are out there.”

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) 

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan speaks at an annual management assembly of the Republican Jewish Coalition, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, in Las Vegas.

While many Republicans have prevented criticizing Trump till extra not too long ago, as soon as the midterms delivered disappointing outcomes for the social gathering, Hogan hasn’t shied away from making his dissatisfaction with the previous president identified. The Maryland governor has confirmed he’s contemplating a attainable bid, however some Republicans aren’t certain if his model of “never-Trumpism” might bode nicely with blocs of the GOP who nonetheless embrace Trump.

“I think if your identity is as a never-Trumper, remember the votes you’re competing for are a bunch of people who voted for Trump twice. It’s a Republican primary, everybody voting in a Republican primary basically voted for Trump twice with a few exceptions,” stated Jennings, whereas noting that Hogan had earned the appropriate to run for president.

“I think a lot of those voters find the never-Trump crowd to be agitating in some way because they saw them as essentially helping the Democrats to pile on during the Trump years,” he continued.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks at a marketing campaign rally for Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, in Oklahoma City.

While Cruz additionally hasn’t closed the door on one other presidential bid, the calculus might be extra difficult on condition that he’s additionally up for reelection in 2024. The senator confirmed he can be in search of reelection, although it’s unclear if White House ambitions change that planning.

Republicans say they’re to see, if Cruz does resolve to run, whether or not he’ll change the best way he manufacturers himself as a candidate. Some say that whereas he has a formidable conservative observe document, they aren’t offered fairly but.

“His conservative credentials are impeccable. He is a brilliant guy. Again, he’s qualified to do the job. But I think there’s a likability issue with him,” stated Seitchik, later including, “I don’t think voters found him particularly likable in 2016. Has he evolved since then is an important question.”