The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) is the country’s biggest meeting of conservative activists and politicians alike. This conference sets the tone for the direction of the Republican Party for future years to come.
Though it is still unclear whether former President Donald Trump will pass the torch or lay the foundation for his presidential campaign in 2024, speakers like Sen. Marco Rubio, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem have been scouted as potential 2024 presidential candidates, according to the New York Times.
CPAC left no room for any contradicting opinions. Politicians similar to Rep. Liz Cheney and Gov. Mitt Romney were either not invited, declined to speak or were booed when their names were called by Trump, according to USAToday.
With a new generation of republicans on the rise, conservative ideologies are illustrating a more united front.
Controversy amongst anti-Trump officials is not enough to drive a wedge between the Republican Party when Trump remains the front runner of his party. In a straw poll conducted amongst CPAC attendees, Trump had a 97% approval rating, with 87% of attendees approving of Trump’s job as president.
Young Republicans are more concerned about financial issues like affordable care, debt and deficit, instead of gay marriage and abortion. Like the rest of the party, the next generation of the GOP is still searching for a unifying figure that looks like the Republican’s core.
We can still see how greatly Trump influences GOP members by hinting at his presidential bid for 2024. Trump lit the match to create unity within the GOP, giving them the stability to challenge the Democratic Party.
Though opinions circling Trump vary between politicians, over half of the attendees said they wish to vote for him again come 2024. His ideas are prevalent and remain on the forefront as conservatives push forward with Trump’s administration.
With the majority of Republicans agreeing with Trump, the future of the Republican Party is left to expand on the principles the United States was first built upon.
