Doug Bauman ‘29
Staff Writer
After these midterm elections, I think Republicans should be more than ready, and perhaps even happy, to move on from the Trump era that has been defining the Republican party for the last 10 years. I believe doing this would be the best thing for them. Over these 10 years Donald Trump has changed drastically from the candidate who captured the attention of the party in 2016. During the primary debates, Trump gained massive popularity by openly criticizing the Bush administration, which no Republican dared to do up until that point. He campaigned on the promise of “draining the swamp” and fixing the corrupt system in D.C. which ultimately got him elected. And now, it looks like Trump, his family, and his allies, have only made that swamp deeper.
So what happens after these midterms? I truly believe the campaign trail for 2028 will be a defining moment for the Republican party, and its future will depend heavily on how much influence Trump and the remaining MAGA movement has over it. I’ve previously argued that if Republicans want any chance of winning, they need a candidate with little to no connection to the administration and isn’t afraid to criticize it. However, the bigger question is if the party is ready to move beyond Trump.
The GOP has already started to point fingers at who’s to blame for their massive loss in the midterms. Republican candidates are blaming Trump’s involvement and the unpopular decision made by the administration, while Trump is blaming the candidates for having bad campaigns and being weak. This tension could grow and could be an early indicator of what’s to come as politicians begin to position themselves for the 2028 presidential race. I expect Trump to use whatever influence he has left to try and cherry pick the Republican nominee, just like he did with the midterms which didn’t turn out too well. However, I think Republicans are finally ready to push back. These midterms should serve as a wake up call for a party that has become way too dependent around one person. The MAGA movement won’t disappear overnight, but Republicans now have an opportunity to establish identities that go beyond President Trump, and they better not screw it up.
For years, it has been extremely difficult to separate the Republican party from Trump’s personal brand. He became such a focal point that even previous opponents of Trump such as Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and the late Lindsey Graham all bent the knee and fell in line. Party unity is important, but it can’t be based on the personality of one individual. Especially one like Trump. A political party needs multiple factions, competing ideas, and leaders who aren’t afraid to disagree with each other. If I had any sway, I would bring back the ideas of fiscal conservatism by focusing on the debt crisis in America and the protection of our civil liberties. These are ideas a lot of people can still get behind if they can explain the consequences of the increasing debt, and the need for strong civil liberty protection in an age of constant surveillance.
To reach this goal, Republicans have a lot of work to do because right now, I don’t see any candidates who can generate the same amount of enthusiasm or confidence for the party’s future that some Democratic candidates have done. This election cycle has brought light to many new politicians who could become major national figures within the Democratic party such as James Talarico and Jon Ossoff who could be the new leadership the party needs. Even so, Democrats have their own problems heading into 2028. They have the opposite issue. They have too many national figures which can cause a lot of internal infighting and increase tensions with one another. Nevertheless, they have a lot of options, and Republicans need more.
Ultimately, the 2028 presidential race will be about much more than just Trump choosing a successor, it will determine if Republicans will continue to build their party around one political figure and one movement, or will they create different identities of their own. The Trump era did change the party, but that doesn’t mean it has to remain defined by him forever. If they want to stay competitive in future elections, they need some new leadership and competing ideas. The Trump era may not be over yet, but the party needs to prepare for what comes next.
Copy edited by Emma Bono ’30
Featured image courtesy of AP News
Leave a Reply