Next nominee faces enormous task of leading a party that has been entirely re-oriented around Trump
onald Trump hasn’t stopped joking about running again for the White House in 2028, even as he acknowledges it is “pretty clear” he is constitutionally ineligible for a third term. Whether intended as a taunt or a threat, his musings are a reminder that, even barred from the ballot, Trump is likely to remain a central figure in the campaign to succeed him.
The next Republican nominee faces the potentially enormous task of leading a party that has been entirely reoriented around Trump into a post-Trump era. Here’s a look at the Republicans best positioned for a White House run.
Vice-president
Next in line to the presidency at just 41, Vance is widely viewed as the heir apparent in a Trump-aligned GOP. A one-time Trump critic who authored the best-selling book, Hillbilly Elegy, Vance is now firmly in the Maga orbit, preaching economic populism and cultural conservatism. He is staunchly “America First” and a leader of the “new right” populist movement that is nationalistic, anti-elite and deeply religious. Early polls and strategists indicate that Vance would emerge as an early frontrunner, especially if he had Trump’s backing. Trump has repeatedly praised Vance’s work as his vice-president, but has indicated that there are other capable contenders.
