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The 2024 presidential election may still be three years away, but Republicans have already begun to jockey for their places in the primary.

Former President Trumps repeated hints that he could mount another bid for the White House remains perhaps the biggest obstacle for other would-be contenders.

While none have spoken definitively about their plans for 2024, many potential candidates have already started networking with GOP leaders and donors in key states while testing out campaign messages in public appearances.

Here are the 10 Republicans most likely to run for president in 2024:

Donald TrumpTrump has been teasing the possibility of a 2024 comeback almost from the moment he left the Oval Office, and his hints have gotten more brazen in recent months.

Hes avoided offering specifics about his thought process, though hes repeatedly said that his supporters will be very happy with his decision.

A campaign announcement likely isnt imminent. In an interview with Fox News published in early November, Trump said that he will probably wait until after the 2022 midterm elections to announce whether or not hell make another run for the White House.

If he does jump into the race, hed start off as the instant favorite to win the nomination at least for now.A Politico-Morning Consult pollreleased in mid-December found that 69 percent of Republican voters want Trump to mount a 2024 comeback bid.

Ron DeSantisFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis has said that hes focused only on his 2022 reelection campaign, but that hasnt shut down speculation that a presidential run may be in the cards.

DeSantis became a conservative darling last year for his laissez-faire approach to the coronavirus pandemic and often indignant response to the advice of public health officials. Hes also crisscrossed the country for fundraisers and other events, leading many political observers to wonder whether hes looking beyond 2022.

Theres little doubt in DeSantiss fundraising abilities if he were to mount a presidential bid. His political committee has nearly $67 million in the bank, and hes already received contributions from donors in all 50 states.

Whats unclear is whether DeSantis would still run for president if Trump jumped into the race. Unlike many possible 2024 contenders, DeSantis hasnt said publicly that he wont run if Trump does.

Mike PenceFormer Vice President Mike Pence would appear to be an obvious choice for Republicans in 2024, given the four years he spent as Trumps No. 2.

Hes visited New Hampshire and other early primary and caucus states, fueling speculation about his political ambitions. And notably, he hasnt ruled out a run.

I can honestly tell you in 2023, my family and I will do what we have always done. Well reflect, well pray and determine where we might best serve, and well go where were called, he told CNN during a stop in New Hampshire earlier this month.

Still, there are questions about just how viable Pence would be in a GOP primary. Trump and his supporters have expressed frustration with Pence for overseeing the certification of electoral votes on Jan. 6, and the former president said at an event in Florida this month that Pence had been mortally wounded within the GOP for his role in the election certification process.

Chris ChristieFormer New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a onetime ally of Trump, has taken an increasingly confrontational approach to the former president over his false claims of fraud in the 2020 election.

Those jabs, as well as an increasingly aggressive public schedule, have sparked chatter that the former New Jersey governor may be eyeing another presidential run after his unsuccessful bid for the GOP nomination in 2016.

In public appearances, Christie has sought to outline a new direction for the post-Trump GOP, urging Republicans to focus on the future and move on from Trumps desire to relitigate the last presidential race.

But that strategy also risks isolating a Republican base that remains loyal to Trump and his vision for the GOP, and its not clear whether it will be a winning message in a 2024 primary.

Nikki HaleyFormer U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley is doing what most prospective presidential contenders would do as they weigh a run for the White House.

Shes formed a political action committee to boost Republican candidates ahead of the 2022 midterm elections and has made stops in early primary and caucus states, all the while trying to navigate the tricky political dynamics of the post-Trump GOP.

But Haley also finds herself in a precarious position. She infuriated Trump earlier this year for criticizing his refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election and subsequent role in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Since then, however, shes taken a more deferential approach to the former president. In April, Haley said that she would not run for president in 2024 if Trump does.

Ted CruzTexas Sen. Ted Cruz sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 only to lose out to Trump in a particularly bitter primary. He became one of Trumps most vocal boosters on Capitol Hill during the former presidents tenure in the White House, but that hasnt stopped him from eyeing another presidential bid of his own.

He told the conservative news outlet Newsmax earlier this year that hes certainly looking at another presidential run, and he hasnt yet committed to foregoing a White House bid if Trump decides to take another stab at the presidency.

Asked on CBSs Face the Nation last month if he would challenge Trump in 2024, Cruz said that the former president would be very, very formidable before noting that he came close to beating Trump in the 2016 primary.

I came in second, Cruz said. Theres a long history of runner-ups becoming the next nominee.

Mike PompeoLike Haley, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has launched a PAC ostensibly to boost GOP candidates in the 2022 midterms while also making the rounds in early primary and caucus states.

Pompeo has said that his focus for now is on helping Republicans recapture control of the House and Senate next year, dodging the question of just how seriously hes eyeing a potential presidential run. But he has yet to say whether Trump will have an effect on his overall decision.

Asked by Fox News host Sean Hannity earlier this year whether he would run if Trump decides to take a pass on another presidential campaign, Pompeo said that he is always up for a good fight.

Kristi NoemSouth Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has repeatedly insisted that shes focused only on her 2022 reelection campaign and isnt planning a run for the White House in 2024. Shes also said that she wants to see Trump as the GOPs next presidential nominee, seemingly taking herself out of the running.

But that hasnt stopped speculation that she may have ambitions beyond the governors mansion. Noem is seen as a rising star among Republicans and has cultivated a national fundraising network that has observers wondering about her future ambitions.

Earlier this year, her campaign launched a federal PAC that can distribute funds into elections outside South Dakota and create a pot of money that could be used for a future federal campaign.

Tom CottonArkansas Sen. Tom Cotton has positioned himself as one of the Biden administrations most vocal opponents in the Senate, making frequent appearances on Fox News to criticize the president and his policies.

Hes also met with GOP leaders in states like Iowa and New Hampshire the first presidential caucus state and primary state, respectively. Asked during an event in Londonderry, N.H., in October about a potential 2024 bid, Cotton didnt shy away from the idea.

I expect Ill be back to New Hampshire again in the future,he told Insider.

Larry HoganAs a GOP governor of a blue state, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has sought to build a national reputation as a traditional Republican in the vein of former President Reagan. Hes also been a vocal critic of Trump, which could give him a unique lane to run in should he mount a bid for the White House in 2024.

Hogan has insisted that hes focused on completing his term as governor while trying to steer the country toward a more civil political debate. But he hasnt dodged conversations about a potential 2024 run entirely, acknowledging during an interview on CBSs This Morning earlier this year that he hasnt ruled it out.

Hogan is also one of the few prospective GOP contenders that wouldnt be deterred from running if Trump launches another campaign.

Continued here:
The 10 Republicans most likely to run for president

1. Trump to GOP: Don't touch Medicare or Social Security in debt ceiling fight  POLITICO
2. One initiative by Republicans has Biden and Trump on the same side  CNN
3. Trump Demands Republicans Spare Entitlements in Debt Fight  Bloomberg

See more here:
Trump to GOP: Don't touch Medicare or Social Security in debt ceiling fight - POLITICO

1. How Republicans Lost Despite Winning the Popular Vote  The New York Times
2. The Republicans Need a Reckoning  The Atlantic
3. Five challenges Republicans face in taking back the Senate in 2024  The Hill
4. Quality control: How House Republicans are trying to avoid another disaster in 2024  Washington Examiner
5. Guest Opinion: Republicans must start winning again  Idaho Press
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

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How Republicans Lost Despite Winning the Popular Vote - The New York Times

When you buy groceries or pay your electricity bill, you might wonder, Can I afford this? Millions of Americans are asking that question because Democrats reckless government spending has led to record inflation and driven us into a recession.

When you watch the local news, you may feel less safe in your community. You arent alone. Under the Biden administration, weve experienced the deadliest years for violent crime and drug overdoses.

Just as we see the rule of law breaking down in our cities, were seeing it break down on our border. This week, President Joe Biden broke the record for the most illegal border crossings in a fiscal year: more than 2 million encounters at the southern border in 11 months.

And the prospect of your kids falling further behind in school is heartbreaking. Government-mandated lockdowns and mask mandates wiped out 20 years of student gains in reading and math.

The White House and Democratic majority in Congress control Washington. This is their record. Yet they dont intend to fix it.

But Republicans have a plan for a new direction to get our country back on track. Its called the Commitment to America.

House Republicans are committed to delivering a strong economy, letting you feed your family and heat your home without breaking the bank. The Commitment to America stops wasteful Washington spending to lower the price of groceries, gas, cars and housing and stop the rising national debt.

It also prioritizes cutting the oil-and-gas-permitting process time in half, lowering energy costs and creating good-paying jobs by unleashing reliable, abundant American-made energy. And it modernizes outdated regulations to expand American manufacturing, strengthen our supply chain and end our dependence on China for critical goods.

Of course, we cant have lasting prosperity without public safety. To secure our southern border, well end catch-and-release loopholes, invest in effective border enforcement and deploy technology to stop the endless flow of illegal immigration and drugs under Biden thats turned every city into a border city.

To reduce crime, well support 200,000 new law-enforcement officers through hiring bonuses, permanently criminalize illicit fentanyl and crack down on soft-on-crime prosecutors. If woke district attorneys wont do their job, they dont deserve another dime of federal money.

As we work toward a safe country with a strong economy, we also want a future built on freedom, in which children come first and our constitutional rights are protected. Well advance the Parents Bill of Rights to deliver real transparency and accountability, recover learning loss from school closures, defend fairness in athletics by ensuring only biological females can compete in girls and womens sports and expand school choice so more than a million more children can attend the school their parents know is right for them. Americas future depends on excellence in education and respect for dedicated parents and teachers.

Finally, Republicans will give you a government thats accountable, without politicians playing by a different set of rules. The Commitment to America champions policies to restore voters confidence in Congress, starting with ending Speaker Nancy Pelosis proxy-voting abuse of power that allowed 90% of House Democrats to get paid without needing to show up for work.

It also restores the House as a check against the Biden administrations incompetence and abuses of power through vigorous oversight. Were committed to investigating issues that deserve real scrutiny, including the politicization of science that drove government-mandated lockdowns and school closures, the weaponization of the Department of Justice, the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan that created 13 new Gold Star families and potential conflicts of interests connected to the presidents familys business dealings.

By taking action every day to deliver an economy thats strong, a nation thats safe, a future thats built on freedom and a government thats accountable, House Republicans will put our nation back on track towards long-term success.

This is our Commitment to America. And in a Congress restored to the American people, we will do everything in our power to make it a reality.

Kevin McCarthy is the House Republican leader.

Read the rest here:
Here's what Republicans will deliver when we take back the House

The dispute over what it means to be a MAGA Republican has given the GOP an opening to accuse President Joe Biden of "smearing" half the voters in the country the roughly 47% of those who voted in 2020 for former President Donald Trump.

MAGA Trumps trademark Make America Great Again 2016 campaign slogan is subject to interpretation. Biden offered his take in a Sept. 1 speech in Philadelphia.

"There is no question that the Republican Party today is dominated, driven, and intimidated by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans, and that is a threat to this country," Biden said. "MAGA Republicans do not respect the Constitution. They do not believe in the rule of law. They do not recognize the will of the people."

Bidens insistence during the address that "not every Republican, not even the majority of Republicans, are MAGA Republicans," has hardly mollified his critics. Fox News commentator Kayleigh McEnany, a former Trump administration press secretary, echoed a common GOP theme, tweeting that Biden had delivered the "most divisive presidential speech" shed ever seen.

In a recent interview on CBS News "60 Minutes," Biden went further, citing two telltale markers that he believes distinguish MAGA Republicans.

"MAGA Republicans are the people who refuse to acknowledge that an election took place and there was a winner," Biden said Sept. 18. "The MAGA Republicans are those people who, in fact, say that the use of violence is a legitimate tool, like what happened to the Capitol."

We examined data to see where Republicans stand on election denialism and sympathy for the people who breached the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. It shows that Republican voters are divided on those points, but the differences among them are rarely crisp and clean.

As political scientist Christopher Cooper at Western Carolina University put it, "People dont put on the MAGA label like a pair of pants its an identity that some people have more of and some people have less of."

A focus on Trump

MAGA is the Trump brand, from campaign slogan, to red hats emblazoned with the letters, to the closing line of his stump speeches.

"A MAGA Republican is first and foremost a Trump supporter, no matter what he seems to do or say," said American University political scientist James Thurber.

A survey of self-identified MAGA voters conducted just after the Capitol assault found they strongly believe the election was stolen and that the riot was the work of antifa, a loose collection of activists who rally against fascism and far-right groups.

Since January 2021, pollsters have been asking Republican voters which they identify more with Trump, or the Republican Party. In a NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, support for Trump has been waning.

In January 2021, an equal number of Republican voters, 46%, said they supported Trump and the Republican Party. By September 2022, Trump supporters had dropped to 33%, and party supporters had risen to 58%.

A recent Politico/Morning Consult tracking poll asked Republicans to pick their preferred 2024 presidential candidate. Trump came in first with 52%, but that also meant about half of Republicans wanted another candidate. In a July New York Times survey, about a fifth of Republicans said Trumps actions on Jan. 6 "went so far that he threatened American democracy."

Others are eager to define what it means to be a MAGA follower, but Republican voters appear to apply the label to themselves flexibly.

Cooper at Western Carolina University was part of a study of Southern state Republicans people in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. The studys poll gave self-identified Republicans the option to choose among the labels Traditional Republican, America First Republican and MAGA.

Respondents were asked to rate how well the labels fit them on a scale of 1= "not at all" to 10= "completely describes me." Nearly three-quarters of respondents picked a 6 or higher for more than one label.

"There are not bright lines between the three categories," said Western Carolina Universitys Cooper. "But there is something distinct about MAGA Republican identifiers. They are less likely to believe that Donald Trump should be prosecuted for January 6, less likely to believe that our elections are free and fair, more likely to approve of Donald Trump."

Trumps influence was evident in the primaries.

An analysis from senior fellow Elaine Kamarck at the Brookings Institution, a research and policy center in Washington, D.C., found that 96% of Trump-endorsed candidates won their recent primary elections. Those candidates were a select group only about 12% of all Republican candidates got Trumps nod.

Kamarck noted that many contests included Trump "wannabes."

"Candidates attacked each other for not being loyal enough to Trump or they tried to paint themselves as the best example of Trumpism, even when they did not get the formal endorsement," Kamarck wrote.

Thirty-six percent of primary candidates identified themselves as Trump or MAGA Republicans; 47% called themselves mainstream conservatives.

A majority of Republicans challenge the 2020 election

Biden defined MAGA Republicans as those who refuse to accept that he won the 2020 election. And poll results suggest that is true.

In the survey of Southern state Republicans, about 80% of those who identified strongly as MAGA said they did not believe the 2020 election was fair or accurate, compared with 66% of those who identified as Traditional Republicans.

But the percentages of election deniers are high for all Republicans. In survey after survey, between 60% and 70% of Republicans say Biden was not the legitimate winner.

The violence on Jan. 6

Biden said MAGA Republicans believe the violence that took place at the Capitol on Jan. 6 was justified.

Surveys show that Republican attitudes on the Capitol breach and the battle with law enforcement are divided. But a Monmouth University poll also found that in the past year, Republicans became a little more accepting of the violence that day.

In June 2021, 62% of Republican respondents said it was appropriate to call the event a riot. In August 2022, 45% said so.

In June 2021, 47% of Republicans said it was a legitimate protest, In August 2022, the fraction rose to 53%.

That roughly equal division among Republicans showed up again in a December 2021 CBS News poll. Then, 47% of Republicans said the people who stormed the Capitol were patriots; 53% said they were not.

But when asked in the CBS poll whether they approved of what took place, 76% of Republicans said they disapproved.

Original post:
PolitiFact | What is a MAGA Republican?