Who will take up Trump's populist mantra in 2020?

[Mr. Morden]

On immigration, Islam, terrorism, etc., Trump isn't really any different from many other Republicans on the right edge of the party.  His rhetoric is more raw than we normally see, but it's a difference of degree rather than a difference of kind.  There are always candidates who occupy that ideological space, even if they flame out like Tom Tancredo.  Any number of different candidates could take up that part of Trump-ism in 2020.

Trade and foreign policy is where Trump is going off in his own direction though.  Trump is protectionist on trade, and also wants to redefine the USA's foreign relations on purely economic terms.  While other Republicans give warnings about Iran and Russia, Trump is more focused on China and Mexico, because of the perceived ways that they're "ripping us off" economically.  Are there other Republican politicians who are embracing *that* aspect of Trump-ism?  You would think that if it's so popular, then at least some Republican candidates would already be latching onto that message this year, but it seems like most of the party is simply tolerating Trump's brand of politics rather than embracing it as their own.

But I'm not paying a lot of attention to downballot races right now.  Maybe there are other Republicans who are already moving in this direction?