July 2022 Republican Presidential Power Rankings
Welcome to the latest installment of The Duckpin Republican Presidential Power Rankings. These rankings will list, in my estimation, the contenders for the Republican nomination for President on a 1-10 scale. This list will be updated every month; maybe more once we get to late 2023.
The rankings are a combination of polls, data, political environment, and gut feelings. It is not necessarily a ranking in order of who I think should be the Republican nominee, but who is best positioned to win the nomination at that time. Think of it as a snapshot in time. And we know what happens over time; one day you’re the flavor of the week, the next you’re yesterday’s news. Just ask Kristi Noem.
I’m starting to think we won’t see a whole lot more movement in these rankings until after the general election in November. Then, the rubber will really begin to meet the road.
#10. Governor Asa Hutchison (AR) (Previous: NR)
#9. Sen. Tom Cotton (AR) (Previous: 10)
Cotton is one of the few people who helped themselves in the wake of the January 6th attempted coup. He retreated from his position on supporting the silly claims of election fraud and has tried to turn the corner on his obsequious Trumpism. However, he remains enough of a Trump supporter that he hasn’t completely alienated Trump’s base. His legislative record and his military service will go far if he decides to run, though his small voting base in Arkansas could hurt him. He’s also showing up in Iowa and New Hampshire and other 2024 early primary locations and is now trying trying to cull favor with donors. That’s a clue.
#8: Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (KS) (Previous: 8)
Pompeo had a bit of a moment last year at CPAC and there’s a bit of a buzz around Pompeo at the moment. He won 3rd place at the CPAC straw poll (which only netted him 2% support). Pompeo’s problem, other than the obvious connection to Trump, is his general lack of a political base. Being elected as a member of Congress from Kansas is hardly a wide political base from which to launch a presidential bid. Pompeo, of course, is boosted by his service as Director of the CIA and as Secretary of State. Pompeo may run, and originally it was hard to imagine him becoming the nominee. But Pompeo is already in Iowa and making a compelling case regarding protecting the Republican win in the Iowa 2nd District. His work with Donald Trump and the surrender of Afghanistan to the Taliban is going to do him no favors.
#7: Sen. Tim Scott (SC) (Previous: 7)
No person helped himself more this spring than Sen. Tim Scott did with his rebuttal to President Joe Biden’s address to Congress. The speech didn’t even help his much as the wild Democratic overreaction to it did, particularly with all of the disgusting racist comments Democrats directed at Scott. Scott raised his profile, both within the GOP and nationally writ-large, with his speech. It is uncertain if he plans to run in 2024, particularly with Nikki Haley thinking about it, but it bears watching; especially true considering he is now raking in boatloads of fundraising dollars. He fell on this list because he inexplicably is just another Republican willing to step aside for Trump.
#6: Former Gov. Chris Christie (NJ) (Previous: 5)
There is no question now with Christie; he’s running for President and running hard. Christie recently said “I’m also not going to be one of these people who’s going to say, ‘Well, I’ll wait to see what President Trump’s going to do.’ You know, I’m not going to defer to anyone if I decide that it’s what I want to do, and that I think I’m the best option for the party and for the country.” He even says waiting for Trump is disqualifying. Christie missed his best shot to run in 2012, and the shine was gone by the time he actually ran in 2016. I struggle to see what constituency he appeals to if he runs in 2024, Trump or no Trump, no matter how much he tries to out-Trump Trump. However, he has a book now: Republican Rescue: Saving the Party from Truth Deniers, Conspiracy Theorists, and the Dangerous Policies of Joe Biden. His recent appearance on the Ruthless podcast made a lot of waves. All this tells us that he’s certainly running but as an anti-Trump, not Trump-like, candidate.
#5: Ex-President Donald Trump (FL) (Previous: 2)
I’ve written off Trump before. But it is starting to be crystal clear that even the people who want to Make America Great Again don’t want to Make Trump President Again.
#4: Gov. Larry Hogan (MD) (Previous: 4)
The man is running for President and his obvious choice not to run for Senate helped confirm that in my mind. No potential candidate was hurt more by the fall of Donald Trump than Hogan. If Trump remains a viable 2024 contender, this race may very well have down to a mano-a-mano showdown between Trump and Hogan, one of the loudest Trump critics in the Republican Party. Hogan has shown great political instincts in being elected Governor of Maryland. His challenge is going to be to convince Republican primary voters that he is conservative enough; he’s more conservative than most (even many Maryland Republicans) give him credit for, but when the primary voters make the (laughable) decision that conservatism means fealty to Trump, that creates complications for a run. However, Trump’s re-emergence makes things just a little easier, especially if other Trumpier candidates take a pass at the race. He’s getting a lot of press regardless of what he decides to do and a recent story in Politico made it clear that he is leaning toward a 2024 run for President. What will not help is Hogan’s comments last month on Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Bill in Florida, which Hogan acknowledged he made without reading the bill.
#3: Gov. Glenn Youngkin (VA) (Previous: 6)
All of a sudden Glenn Youngkin is dropping hints that he may actually run. He took office with guns blazing, and conservative voters are taking notice. And now he’s about to go campaign for candidates across the country. Youngkin seems to have somewhat cracked the code as to how to appeal to Trump voters without alienating non-Trump voters or bending the knee to Trump. It’s a helluva tightrope to walk, but it’s a model a lot of Republicans will be looking to emulate next year. His ability to do that, his already existing national profile, his personal wealth, and a lot of the national media living in his state is going to give him a chance to continue to raise his profile. If he wants to be President, this might be his best chance.
#2: Ex-Vice President Mike Pence (IN) (Previous: 3)
Pence’s profile in this race is similar to that of Joe Biden when he ran in 2020. Arguable, Pence is the most qualified candidate in the field: he’s been a small business owner, a Congressman, a Governor, and of course Vice-President. That last part is what will trip him up. In a primary election, Pence will be hampered by the Trumpiest part of the Republican base that is mad because Pence didn’t violate the law, the Constitution, and common sense and unilaterally throw out the results of the 2020 Presidential Election. One thing, though, that does show the problems that Pence has with the pro-Trump elements of the party is his perceived “disloyalty” to Trump for not going allow with the attempted Trump coup of January 6th, for which he was booed at the Faith and Freedom Coalition Conference. But a recent donors retreat shows that Pence remains serious. That may be less of a liability as we see Trump’s level of success in dragging candidates across the finish line.
#1: Gov. Ron DeSantis (FL) (Previous: 1)
Nothing changes recently. DeSantis remains far and away the most likely Republican Nominee. He remainspublic enemy #1 among the liberal intelligentsia. All that’s doing is improving DeSantis’ credibility among conservative voters. Previously it looked like the combination of the toxic stews that make up the Trumpist GOP had caught up to DeSantis. But the media might be making it back up for him. The overall loyalty to Trump, and the bonkers idea that DeSantis is a “conservative turncoat” for encouraging people to get the vaccine finally come together to knock him off of the top perch. It makes no sense, like many things in the modern GOP, but the truth at this moment is undeniable. He’s still going to run, mind you. He may say that he isn’t running now (perhaps as he prepares to run for re-election next year), but I won’t believe he isn’t in until we get past mid-2023 without an announcement. His only problem may be that he is peaking too soon. Let’s just say it’s not a coincidence that he is hiring top staff. The problem DeSantis is going to have? Trump’s going to turn his fire on him at some point; it’s only a matter of when. And that when may be coming soon. The only question is how the fallout of the boneheaded decision to punish Disney plays out.
Dropping Out: None
not sure who made up this poll but it has not truth to the patriot Republicans. Trump is ahead of DeSantis and Hogan has no standing. This is just a piece of your propaganda.