Trump critics fear he will storm the Republican primary field if candidates don’t ‘get out of the way’

Republican politicians are concerned there could be a repeat of 2016 with former President Donald Trump deserving the nomination if too many candidates run in the 2024 presidential primary.

The biggest concern about this is that some strategists and lawmakers aren’t sure Trump could beat President Joe Biden in a rematch because of the division he’s sowing among Republican and independent swing voters.

There are already nine candidates vying for the GOP nomination — and at least four others are considering entering the race in the coming days and weeks.

Trump’s closest competitor to date is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who consistently ranks second in surveys despite being at least 20 points behind the former president.

Both Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Republican Whip John Thune of South Carolina said they saw the writing on the wall from a 2016 replay.

A repeat of 2016? Yes,’ Senator Cornyn told The Hill regarding concerns he shared with Republican colleagues in Congress — and said he is hopeful that candidates will drop out if their poll numbers remain low.

“A number of these people are in low single digits, so my hope is that if their numbers don’t get better after a few months, they decide to drop out so that it becomes a two or three person race. ‘ Cornyn added. ‘That seems to me to be the best development, as far as I’m concerned.’

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley; Senator Tim Scott, also of South Carolina; former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy are already in the running with Trump and DeSantis.

Former Vice President Mike Pence also filed the proper paperwork required to officially enter the 2024 race on Monday.

These are the few that actually make headway in the primary poll, while more have already signed up or are considering making a bid.

Conservative radio host Larry Elder, Dallas businessman Ryan Binkley and Michigan businessman Perry Johnson are among the more distant candidates who have already announced their candidacy.

Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota noted in The Hill that those who did not support Trump in 2016 and could not come together to decide on a single alternative helped the longtime businessman and reality TV personality clinch the nomination.

“That’s happened before,” he claimed, saying Cornyn “just states the facts.” That is how it works.’

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum is gearing up to enter the race — and others considering a bid include former New Jersey governor and one-time Trump ally Chris Christie, and former Speaker of the House Intelligence, Mike Rogers, considering a political comeback with a candidacy for president. .

Gov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire said Monday he is ruling out a bid for the presidency in 2024.

After Trump became a divisive frontrunner in the overcrowded 2016 Republican primary, voters struggled to unite behind an alternative that included Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Florida’s Marco Rubio, and Ohio Governor John Kasich.

This is what strategists and political scientists note led to Trump’s rise within the party as the GOP rallied behind the nominee, despite his natural divisions among voters and politicians.