Republican candidate in 2020 if Sanders defeats Trump in 2016

[Thunderbird is the word]

I imagine that there would be a strong push by establishment Republicans if Trump lost to rig the nomination process in favor of someone like Kasich, Rubio or Thune. At the same time though against a self-identified Socialist as president the Tea Party would likely have more steam then ever and they would probably distance themselves from Trump, labeling him a RINO.

[/]

The Republican Party will have been abolished by then.

[Thunderbird is the word]

The Republican Party will have been abolished by then.

one can only hope...

[mvd10]

Probably someone like Rubio, Martinez, Walker or Ryan. Establishment approved but still against SSM or abortion. In the best case a Kasich type ('I am against it but it is the law of the land and we should deal with it'). I think will be a lot of candidates in 2020 if this happens, I mean defeating a 79 year old socialist imcumbent after 12 years of one party rule in the USA? Even Ted Cruz should win this race lol. But the GOP probably will end up nominating someone like Palin in a Trumpesque way. I really can see that happening...

[Figueira]

Probably a "moderate." Sandoval maybe?

[mvd10]

Probably a "moderate." Sandoval maybe?

I would love it, but I don't know if the GOP base will be ready for Sandoval in 2020, he is pro choice and I believe he also supports SSM. 12 year of democratic rule probably will convince them to vote for Sandoval in the general, but I'm afraid the GOP voters will go with the most conservative electable option in the primary. Rubio and Martinez aren't really moderates but they still are fairly electable and Martinez can play the first female president card if Sanders wins the presidency (very unlikely imo).

[I support Sanders]

Probably a "moderate." Sandoval maybe?

I would love it, but I don't know if the GOP base will be ready for Sandoval in 2020, he is pro choice and I believe he also supports SSM. 12 year of democratic rule probably will convince them to vote for Sandoval in the general, but I'm afraid the GOP voters will go with the most conservative electable option in the primary. Rubio and Martinez aren't really moderates but they still are fairly electable and Martinez can play the first female president card if Sanders wins the presidency (very unlikely imo).

I'm quite sure 2016 will be the last election year where same-sex marriage plays any part in the general election, or any primary process. This is not to say that the majority of the base will approve of it, but the GOP view of this issue is already starting to shift as the older elements of the base die off and are replaced by young Republicans, and four years is plenty of time for the remaining base to realize that if they want to win, Mitt Romney had it right in 2012: social issues must be downplayed. Of course, ideally, people will be open about their positions as the Democrats are, but the Republicans social values run in the face of public opinion (with the exception of the death penalty, Republicans are on the wrong side of the debates over marriage equality, abortion, drugs, prostitution, assisted suicide, gun control, school prayer, etc.), and therefore must be concealed in order for them to win. This trend will only continue by 2020.

[Rockefeller GOP]

The Republican Party will have been abolished by then.

one can only hope...

It's been kickin' since the 1850s and made it through the Great Depression ... It'll have to adapt, but it isn't going anywhere.

[Higgs]

Sanders loses in a landslide, so long as the GOP doesn't nominate Trump again.

[ObamaThirdTerm]

The Republican Party will have been abolished by then.

one can only hope...

Be careful what you wish for

[5280]

Can you imagine how many more GOP candidates will run during the primary in 2020? Im sure Democrat fatigue will be setting in quite a bit, after 12 years of control.

[I support Sanders]

"Democrat fatigue" may well be in full swing in 2020, but as the GOP's base dies off, and the GOP moderates, libertarians, and the few remaining social conservatives switch to the Democratic, Libertarian, and Constitution Parties, respectively, it is unlikely that any candidate with an "R" after their name will again hold office. I have been convinced for the past two years that George W. Bush will remain the last Republican president. By 2020 or 2024, it is entirely possible that the U.S. will be a 3-party system, the new Party system comprising Democrats, Libertarians, and Constitution Party members. The Democrats will be the big-tent Party with a liberal wing (Sanders, Warren, Brown, Grayson) and a moderate wing (Clinton, and GOP defectors like Crist and Chafee); whereas the Libertarian and Constitution Parties will absorb the fragmented remains of the GOP's libertarians and social conservatives. If the GOP exists by 2024, it will likely just be a small number of neoconservatives like Dick Cheney, assuming his heart doesn't give out by then, and Bill Kristol, who will probably still be alive at 72.

That is just my opinion, as an observer.

[Kingpoleon]

I'm predicting a Sen. John Kasich/Gov. John Sanches ticket that ends up winning Oregon, ME-1, and pushing Washington below 50%.