The leadership battle within the Republican party has finally come to an end, providing some relief for the GOP. However, the newly appointed House Speaker, Mike Johnson, may not be the ideal candidate to help the party regain support in the suburbs during next year’s elections. Despite being described as personable, Johnson holds conservative social views and has a 90% conservative voting record. He is against gay marriage and even supported a Texas lawsuit aimed at overturning President Biden’s 2020 election victories in four key states.
The MAGA wing of the Republican party has made it clear that they will only accept a hardliner as Speaker, with former President Trump’s endorsement being a prerequisite for the job. However, Trump’s support is primarily based on loyalty rather than ideology. As long as someone aligns with his belief that he won the 2020 election “by a lot,” they have his backing. Johnson’s involvement in Trump’s efforts to overturn Biden’s victory made him eligible for Trump’s endorsement. Unfortunately, this association allows the Democrats and the media to paint the GOP as a party of Trump loyalists who refuse to accept defeat.
The election deniers, who contested the 2020 election results, experienced significant losses in swing states in 2022. It remains uncertain how crucial the Speaker’s role will be for Republican chances in the upcoming elections. Currently, the Republicans seem to be in danger of squandering their advantage, similar to a football team that is at risk of losing a late 4-0 lead. A majority of Americans view President Biden’s performance unfavorably and find the idea of re-electing him absurd. Furthermore, Vice President Harris, who is next in line for power, is perceived to be even more incompetent and less popular than Biden.
Many centrist voters believe that the Democrats have shifted too far to the left. The Republicans have a straightforward task ahead of them if they want to regain the White House and the Senate next year – they need to appear competent and rational. However, the MAGA wing of the party, which now holds significant influence, is not interested in compromising or appealing to suburban voters in areas like Atlanta and Philadelphia. While more than half the country strongly dislikes Trump, his die-hard supporters are unable to recognize this.
These supporters are akin to addicts who have become consumed by their devotion to Trump and cannot be persuaded otherwise. The lyrics from The Smiths’ song “Accept Yourself” come to mind, highlighting the difficulty of reasoning with them. The majority of Trump voters refuse to accept his loss to Biden, reject the validity of polls, and deny that Trump is a weak candidate. Consequently, they blame rigged elections for the poor performance of Republicans in various elections, including the 2018, 2020, and 2022 races, as well as the disastrous Georgia Senate run-off elections in 2018.
Those who reside in the world of ULTRA MAGA rely solely on information from Trump and his social media influencers. This group consists of opportunistic individuals who are willing to tell Trump supporters whatever they want to hear in order to make a profit and secure their status within Trump’s circle. It is ironic that the US, a nation built on anti-monarchy sentiments, has a faction of Trump supporters who seemingly desire a king-like figure. They expect unwavering loyalty from their chosen leader, without even requiring him to participate in debates.
Johnson earned his position as Speaker due to his unwavering loyalty to Trump. However, it remains to be seen if he can prioritize the party’s interests over Trump’s narrow agenda. In 2016, the Democrats made a similar mistake by selecting the unpopular Hillary Clinton as their nominee, disregarding her poor poll numbers simply because it was “her turn.” However, in 2020, Democratic voters united around the common goal of defeating Trump and pragmatically chose Joe Biden, despite reservations from the party’s progressive base.
Although Biden has been an inept President, he has allowed the far-left progressive agenda to flourish, which has negatively impacted his approval ratings. The GOP, rather than moving forward and rebranding itself, is now doubling down on its past and reaffirming its allegiance to Trump by selecting Johnson. This decision mirrors that of a battered housewife who fears breaking free from a bad pre-nuptial agreement. The GOP politicians and voters seem to be alienating centrist voters, which could inadvertently lead to Biden’s re-election, against all odds and the best interests of the country and the world.
Perhaps the GOP needs to experience another significant loss before its voters wake up, acknowledge reality, and start anew.
