America is divided politically. No question. 2016 highlighted this fact and 2018 brought us a divided government in Congress. But, how about the GOP? Are the Republicans as unified as they seem? President Trump may have political enemies from the other party, but there are Republicans who have distanced themselves from the President. As 2020 comes closer, many Democrats are gunning for the White House. But, before the general election, President Trump could have a primary challenge on his hands. Modern presidential history has not seen a primary challenge to a sitting president, but one lesson to be learned from 2016 is that anything can happen.
Several Republicans have been willing to break off with Trump on certain issues. 25 Republicans voted to overturn the President's national emergency declaration in mid-March. This led to Donald Trump's first veto while in office. This most recent act of defiance highlights differences between Trump and some members of the party.
The only Republican thus far to float the idea of challenging the President is former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld. He launched an exploratory committee in February to decide if he should run for president. Weld has been very critical of the president and of Republicans in Washington D.C. Trump certainly has faced heavy criticism, but not this much from a member of his own party.
Senator Jeff Flake was rumored to run for president before last November. Senator Flake is retired and he was one of President Trump's fiercest opponents in Congress. In the past, he vowed to hold up some of Trump's judicial nominees and the two have gone toe-to-toe on Twitter several times. After leaving the Senate he announced that he would not run against Trump in 2020.
Former Ohio Governor John Kasich also expressed interest in running in 2020. Kasich was a staunch adversary to then-candidate Trump in 2016. He and 15 other Republicans ran in the Republican primary. Throughout Trump's first term, Kasich critiqued the President and related to GOP voters who are against Trump. Kasich has not ruled out another run at the White House. However, it remains unclear the kind of support he would receive in the primaries.
The President's re-election bid began almost immediately after Donald Trump was sworn in. But some Republicans might prefer a challenger to the man currently sitting in the Oval Office. 2020 will be here before you know it and Republicans hope to retain the White House, but also take back Congress. Republicans have followed the President throughout his first term. The sects of the party that have not followed could pose a threat to President Trump and his 2020 ambitions.
Could a Republican beat Trump? The established politicians could not in 2016. Now, the GOP is in the reverse. Trump is now a politician and he controls the mainstream Republican Party. It is hard to say if an outlier can overcome the financial and political inquiries to a primary challenge. A Republican who wishes to run in 2020 should get in the race for what is best not only for the party but for the entire nation.
