(USNewsMag.com) – It’s pretty obvious at this point that the Republican Party remains divided and bogged down by political infighting. It no longer seems the fighting is between just the “RINOs” and “MAGA” voters and politicians anymore. Now, there seems to be a third category surging within the party – one in which there are people dissatisfied with both “RINOs” and “MAGA” candidates. It is a category that prefers Ron DeSantis as a presidential nominee while imitating Trump-era policies – but without Donald Trump.
According to Fox News, most Republicans did support Trump while he was in the White House. But with recent controversies surrounding an FBI raid on his Mar-a-Lago residence and comments made on his Truth Social app, some feel it is becoming increasingly difficult to declare loyalty to the man seeking a third presidential run.
However, not all hope is lost. New York Representative Elise Stefanik (R) was one of the first to support Donald Trump, along with Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) and Let. Gov. Dan Patrick of Texas. Other supporters include Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX).
Interestingly enough, although Ron DeSantis has not yet formally announced he is running for president, it is clear many voters would love to see him run. A recent Wall Street Journal poll found that 86 percent of possible Republican voters found DeSantis more favorable than Trump, who, in comparison, 74 percent viewed in a favorable light. This is just one of many recent polls showing a similar trend, with DeSantis winning favor over Trump in a hypothetical 2024 primary.
Polls are very volatile, and often undermine most of the voting bloc in recent elections. Let’s not forget the similar polls that were released in 2016, shortly after Trump announced he was running for election for the first time. Most thought he wouldn’t even win the primary, and yet he won in a landslide.
As the 2024 presidential primaries draw closer, more elected officials will feel inclined to officially endorse a primary candidate than they are right now. Seeing as the 2022 midterm elections are just barely wrapping up, many would rather focus on the results of these elections so they can reflect on and analyze what can be improved during the next election cycle. Which is fair.
Vianca Rodriguez, Independent Political Analyst
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