Professor of Government Michael Franz sees turmoil ahead for the Republican Party following former President Donald Trump’s recent announcement that he plans to run for the White House in 2024.
“Those Republicans who have said very little in opposition to Trump now have to decide whether to support him or not, and that’s going to make for a tumultuous twelve months ahead for the GOP,” said Franz at a recent public event. “It seems like there are a number of potential Republican candidates who have a very good chance of winning in 2024,” he explained, “including [Florida governor] Ron Desantis… So, Republicans probably will have to decide whether they want to bet on Trump one more time, knowing that he has a core base of supporters who still love him, or that it's time to cut bait and start over,” added Franz.
Many Republicans, he said, will be aware that Trump has not enjoyed a good election cycle since 2016. “Also, he didn't win the popular vote in either presidential election and I can't imagine him winning the popular vote the third time around, so that just makes it much harder for the GOP to see him as the pathway forward.”
Sharing the stage with Franz at Kresge Auditorium was Assistant Professor of Government Ángel Saavedra Cisneros, who highlighted another important factor. “With the presidential primary more than a year away and the general election almost two years off, the question is—Does Trump have the energy? He’s not the youngest of candidates.” Furthermore,...
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