Future of the GOP

REPUBLICAN REFORMATION GOP must reform and adopt new policies following President Trump’s ousting

KYLE HAWLEY MANAGING EDITOR

On Jan. 20, President-elect Joe Biden will be inaugurated into the office of the presidency, officially ending Donald Trump’s short tenure in the White House. While Trump’s most staunch supporters are refusing to accept the results of the election, traditional Republicans and moderates are relieved that the president will no longer lead the party—not because we wish for the GOP’s downfall, but instead we want to see the party strengthen and unite.

As the president enters his lame duck period, former Trump advocates and Republicans in Congress are rightfully beginning to distance themselves from the White House. Noting that Trump failed to carry Georgia, Republicans will likely request that he does not campaign for either of the two Senate runoff elections.

“The Republicans are starting to prepare for politics after Trump. Although this may anger the president, it is for the best,” junior Cab Fooshe said. “The GOP can continue his anti-establishment agenda while also adding new platforms and stances on issues that will help guide the party towards prosperity and unity.”

In 2016, voters were drawn in by the GOP nominee’s stances on issues that went against the status quo. Trump also promoted the America First doctrine.

“The president was very strong in negotiating better trade and business deals with foreign countries. But again, I don’t think he really communicated what that meant to the average American,” former Congressman Jack Fields said in an interview with The Highlander.

Trump managed to unite the party in terms of national security and the economy.

“I think that the Republican Party has shown some solidarity, but also a lot of independent elements. Honestly, the message of Donald Trump was a message that resonated with many, many Americans,” Fields said. “More Americans would have voted for the president, had he not made some of the incendiary comments and the way he treated some people.” While Trump lost some groups of voters that the GOP traditionally carries, he made gains among other groups, signaling a conservative shift in political demographics. “Donald Trump did better among Hispanics in Texas and Florida than previous Republicans. He resonated beyond what was the normal [GOP] base,” Fields said. “The Republican Party has got to figure out how to communicate better to all minorities, but particularly Latinos and Hispanics.” However, other conservatives assume Latinos will vote more liberally when Trump is out of office. “I think that the GOP will definitely lose some of the demographics that Trump picked up,” said senior Caroline Lucia, vice president of the Young Conservatives. “For example, his constant brandishing of the term ‘socialism’ caused a lot of Latino voters to support Trump, and I think the party will lose those voters since other Republican candidates are less willing to label their opponents as such.”

It is difficult to project how these demographics will vote in the next election. While Trump’s foreign policy and national security agenda will be enshrined into the base, the party needs to add environmental policy and modernize stances on social issues, forming contemporary conservative policies.

“I think that the GOP will just have a broader range now,” Lucia said. “I think that some of the party will continue his legacy but it will totally contract on the other side to incorporate the policies that Trump fell short on, like climate change and healthcare.”

Although the conservatives have lost control of the executive branch, the Republican Party is not out of power. They are projected to retain the Senate and have a one-seat advantage on the Supreme Court.

“The GOP will get rid of Trumpism through writing new policies into their bases’ platform,” Fooshe said. “While the party itself can only do so much in order to reform their base, it truthfully relies all on the 2024 presidential candidate and their new argument for the American people.”

For the first time in four years, the GOP is back on the offensive. Party leaders will have opportunities to attack Biden’s administration and grow their base of traditional conservatism around the nation.

“If Biden does manage to get his extreme plans through Congress, then we will see a surge of conservative voters in the 2024 presidential election,” Fields said. “We will also take back the House in 2022 and have a Republican speaker [of the House] and Senate majority leader that will revive conservative values in the White House through negotiations and compromises.”

Republican or Democrat, we must always hope our nation succeeds. Trump without a doubt has been a divisive president that many Americans feared. The most patriotic thing we can do is stand by Biden’s side and acknowledge this as a win. During the BidenKamala administration, the Republican Party should and will begin reforming their base to represent every American citizen.