It’s 2016 all over again: Trump critics fear he will storm the Republican primary field if new candidates join and don’t ‘get out of the way’ if they plummeting in the polls
- Republican lawmakers, politicians and strategists are worried Trump could sweep the 2024 primaries if other candidates don’t get out of the way
- Texas Sen. John Cornyn expressed concern over ‘a replay of 2016’
- There are already nine GOP candidate in the 2024 primary race – and Trump’s top competitor is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
Republican politicians are concerned that there could be a repeat of 2016 with former President Donald Trump earning the nomination if too many candidates enter the 2024 presidential primary.
The biggest worry over this is that some strategists and lawmakers aren’t sure if Trump could beat President Joe Biden in a rematch due to how divisive he is among Republican and independent swing voters.
There are already nine candidates vying for the GOP nomination – and at least four others considering entering the race in coming days and weeks.
Trump’s biggest competitor so far is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who consistently comes in second place in surveys despite coming at least 20 points behind the former president.
Both Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Republican Whip John Thune of South Carolina said that they see the writing on the wall of a 2016 redo.
Republican lawmakers, politicians and strategists are worried former President Donald Trump could sweep the 2024 primaries if other candidates don’t get out of the way to let anti-Trump Republican voters focus efforts on one rival
Trump’s top competitor is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is still polling at least 20 points behind the former president
‘A replay of 2016? Yeah,’ Sen. Cornyn told The Hill regarding concerns he shared with Republican colleagues in Congress – saying that he is hopeful that candidates will drop out if their polling numbers remain low.
‘A number of these people are in low single digits, so my hope would be that, if after a few months their numbers don’t get better, that they decide to drop out so that it becomes a two- or three-person race,’ Cornyn added. ‘I think that would be the best development, as far as I’m concerned.’
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley; Sen. Tim Scott, also from South Carolina; former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy are already in the race with Trump and DeSantis.
Former Vice President Mike Pence also filed on Monday the appropriate paperwork needed to officially enter the 2024 race.
These are the few actually making strides in primary polling while more are already entered or considering making a bid.
Conservative Radio host Larry Elder, Dallas-area businessman Ryan Binkley and Michigan businessman Perry Johnson are among those more long shot candidates who have already announced their candidacy.
Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota noted to The Hill that those who didn’t support Trump in 2016 and couldn’t come together to decide on a single alternative helped clinch the nomination for the longtime businessman and reality television personality.
‘That’s happened before,’ he claimed, saying that Cornyn is ‘just stating the facts. That’s the way that it works.’
Former Vice President Mike Pence filed paperwork on Monday needed to run for president and will announce his candidacy Wednesday at Des Moines Area Community College in Iowa
Others preparing to enter the race are North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (left) and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (right)
Preparing to enter the race is North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum – and others considering a bid are former New Jersey Gov. and once a Trump ally Chris Christie and former House Intelligence Chair Mike Rogers, who is considering a political comeback with a run for president.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said Monday that he is ruling out a bid for president in 2024.
After Trump became a divisive frontrunner in the crowded 2016 Republican primary race, voters had difficulty uniting behind an alternative with Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Marco Rubio of Florida and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
This is what strategists and political scientists note led to Trump’s rise within the Party as the GOP united behind the nominee despite his naturally divisive nature among voters and politicians.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said Monday that he will not be entering the race after months of weighing entering the race
