Staff Reports
Brian Kemp, Governor of Georgia, aims to be a key figure in the Republican party’s efforts to reclaim the presidency in 2024. This may prove to be unfavorable for former President Donald Trump, a top Republican contender for the next election, as he and Kemp have had a strained relationship.
Kemp’s political clout grows ahead of 2024 https://t.co/HL7tbihHtG pic.twitter.com/f3VXnU3hLh
— The Hill (@thehill) February 6, 2023
Kemp is being looked at as a potential running mate for the eventual nominee or as a highly sought after surrogate in a newly minted battleground state. There are also suggestions that Kemp may run for Senate in 2026, when Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) faces re-election. This has been confirmed by one of Kemp’s close allies.
The viewpoint being expressed is that Kemp has offered a model for Republicans who oppose Trump to succeed in elections without him. Kemp successfully overcame a primary opponent who was endorsed by Trump and went on to beat Democrat Stacey Abrams in the 2022 general election. Stephen Lawson, a Republican strategist based in Georgia, claimed that Kemp’s win “provides a blueprint” and “will offer lessons for others who have recently been criticized by the President.”
The opposing viewpoint is that Republicans underperformed in the midterm elections due to Trump. However, it’s noteworthy that candidates endorsed by Trump performed well in the midterms. Trump continues to enjoy high popularity among Republicans and consistently leads in 2024 Republican primary polls, even surpassing the top Democratic candidates in some surveys.
It is unclear whether Trump has enough support across the country to have a legitimate chance at regaining the presidency in 2024. But, it is hard to believe that Kemp is on the road to victory for Republicans in 2024. It remains to be seen what role Kemp will play in the Republicans’ attempt to win back the White House, but it is certain that his influence will be felt in some way.
The preceding article is a summary of an article that originally appeared on Conservative Institute
