When will Republicans nominate a Southern conservative again?

[Adjective-Statement]

Unless you want to get technical with Trump changing his address to Florida for the 2020 election, the Republicans haven't nominated a conservative from the South (or a Southerner in general) for president or vice president on a ticket since George Bush. Who's next and when?

[Roll Roons]

If Trump doesn't run again in 2024, DeSantis is probably the frontrunner.

Although Pence, despite not actually being from the South, fits the "Conservative Southerner" mold a lot better than DeSantis does. Most of Florida just doesn't really feel Southern, and the South's brand of Republicanism/conservatism has a distinct Evangelical flavor.

[dw93]

If DeSantis isn't nominated in 2024 or 2028, than Bush will be the last southern conservative nominee. The Republicans will likely nominate candidates from the midwest and the northeast from here on out.

[Adjective-Statement]

If DeSantis isn't nominated in 2024 or 2028, than Bush will be the last southern conservative nominee. The Republicans will likely nominate candidates from the midwest and the northeast from here on out.

Dunno. There's only going to be more big Southern swing states as time goes on. Don't you suppose that losing Texas would draw the Republicans' attention back to the region and boost candidates from there? This phenomenon is bizarre given how much Southernization has progressed, and the only reason I can think of for it other than coincidence is disdain both within and without the GOP for the folksy, gut-feeling, cowboy hat-wearing Evangelical Southern character that Bush represented. We're at a point where that's ancient history for voters.

[Non Swing Voter]

It seems like the powers that be in the party are pushing NON-southerners (except for the token ones like Rubio) because they don't want to be seen as a white southern party (which is exactly what they are).

[Don't Tread on Me]

DeSantis is the probable nominee if Trump doesn't run. Other than that, Hogan could be nominated as a compromise candidate or Herschel Walker could run if his senate campaign is successful. Tom Cotton and Jim Justice are other possible contenders. Cruz is probably going to run again but the chances of him getting the nomination are slim, same with Rand Paul if he decides to run.

[chalmetteowl]

It seems like the powers that be in the party are pushing NON-southerners (except for the token ones like Rubio) because they don't want to be seen as a white southern party (which is exactly what they are).

the powers that be wanted Jeb Bush in 2016 and the voters put in Trump. Ted Cruz is also a big deal for Republicans.

[Del Tachi]

Calling Trump a "conservative" is really pushing it here.  He won the 2016 primary by consolidating the moderate lane if you remember.  "Very conservative" GOP primary voters were the Cruz/Rubio people.

The voting heart of national GOP primary contests remains the moderate-populists of the Northeast and Midwest.  These people are not won over by heterodox, Heritage Foundation-type conservatism that so many GOP candidates attempt to embody to win over the donor class. 

[Adjective-Statement]

Calling Trump a "conservative" is really pushing it here

I didn't. I wanted to stop someone before they said he technically ran as a Southerner in 2020.

[Non Swing Voter]

It seems like the powers that be in the party are pushing NON-southerners (except for the token ones like Rubio) because they don't want to be seen as a white southern party (which is exactly what they are).

the powers that be wanted Jeb Bush in 2016 and the voters put in Trump. Ted Cruz is also a big deal for Republicans.

I should have been more specific.  I don't consider Florida or Virginia southern states anymore.  I was more referring to a Deep South evangelical from NC through TX and also including KY/TN.

[TodayJunior]

I could see them nominating an old white southerner (a Haley Barbour or Brian Kemp type maybe?) just by leaning into the stereotype in that if they're going to call us X, might as well nominate X and just give up and go home.

Some Republicans I know are leaning into "political accelerationism", which is really sad given the state of the party nationally. I guess the theory goes, 'if we just lose bad enough soon enough and bottom out, eventually "Y" will screw things up so bad we get a big dead cat bounce in 20 years and win just because we're "not Y".

These are real conversations - how depressing, they need help. A lot of them think every election will be stolen from them no matter what they do bc the fix is in. And you can’t blame them (to a point) bc trump continues that rhetoric and sabotaging his own voter base. This is why I believe and continue to believe 2022 and 2024 will be Democrat victories. Maybe when Trump dies, it’ll cease to be factor. Just sayin.

The GOP needs someone like a Larry Hogan or a Charlie Baker, either of which I would support. If it's not someone in the mold of a moderate-centrist with come mild conservative pro-business views, I doubt they win for a very long time. The next Republican president will have to be someone not connected to the current trajectory of the GOP; this mystery person may not even hold elected office right now.  

[Non Swing Voter]

I could see them nominating an old white southerner (a Haley Barbour or Brian Kemp type maybe?) just by leaning into the stereotype in that if they're going to call us X, might as well nominate X and just give up and go home.

Some Republicans I know are leaning into "political accelerationism", which is really sad given the state of the party nationally. I guess the theory goes, 'if we just lose bad enough soon enough and bottom out, eventually "Y" will screw things up so bad we get a big dead cat bounce in 20 years and win just because we're "not Y".

These are real conversations - how depressing, they need help. A lot of them think every election will be stolen from them no matter what they do bc the fix is in. And you can’t blame them (to a point) bc trump continues that rhetoric and sabotaging his own voter base. This is why I believe and continue to believe 2022 and 2024 will be Democrat victories. Maybe when Trump dies, it’ll cease to be factor. Just sayin.

The GOP needs someone like a Larry Hogan or a Charlie Baker, either of which I would support. If it's not someone in the mold of a moderate-centrist with come mild conservative pro-business views, I doubt they win for a very long time. The next Republican president will have to be someone not connected to the current trajectory of the GOP; this mystery person may not even hold elected office right now.  

Isn't the right wing "accelerationism" thing about them wanting the country to split up?

[TodayJunior]

I could see them nominating an old white southerner (a Haley Barbour or Brian Kemp type maybe?) just by leaning into the stereotype in that if they're going to call us X, might as well nominate X and just give up and go home.

Some Republicans I know are leaning into "political accelerationism", which is really sad given the state of the party nationally. I guess the theory goes, 'if we just lose bad enough soon enough and bottom out, eventually "Y" will screw things up so bad we get a big dead cat bounce in 20 years and win just because we're "not Y".

These are real conversations - how depressing, they need help. A lot of them think every election will be stolen from them no matter what they do bc the fix is in. And you can’t blame them (to a point) bc trump continues that rhetoric and sabotaging his own voter base. This is why I believe and continue to believe 2022 and 2024 will be Democrat victories. Maybe when Trump dies, it’ll cease to be factor. Just sayin.

The GOP needs someone like a Larry Hogan or a Charlie Baker, either of which I would support. If it's not someone in the mold of a moderate-centrist with come mild conservative pro-business views, I doubt they win for a very long time. The next Republican president will have to be someone not connected to the current trajectory of the GOP; this mystery person may not even hold elected office right now.  

Isn't the right wing "accelerationism" thing about them wanting the country to split up?

Somewhat yes, like a peaceful divorce, or whatever.

I think it’s more to accelerate the decline of the entire country bc in their twisted minds, they think we deserve it for electing an invalid like Biden, in that we should just get it over with and make the pain stop when we’re all dead. They believe trump was the only one who could save the USA, and thus don’t believe the country is salvageable anymore, and they’re not likely to turnout to vote anymore either, but if they do, they may even vote Dem in some cases not bc they agree with the other side, but in their mind they’re bringing destruction more quickly by doing so. Kinda sick right? This is a good chunk of those 74M voters (probably around 10M think this way, and they need serious psychological help)

But the political side of that is to just bottom out quickly, lose everything everywhere badly with trump to just get it over with, and then rebuild the party from the bottom up. These folks are mostly conservatives but despise trump, and I completely get where they’re coming from.

[ShadowRocket]

If DeSantis isn't nominated in 2024 or 2028, than Bush will be the last southern conservative nominee. The Republicans will likely nominate candidates from the midwest and the northeast from here on out.

I large agree with this. Cruz and Cotton are really the only other southern Republicans that get any kind of presidential buzz but their respective odds at winning the nomination don't strike me as being particular high.

Though there is always the possibility that the 2022 and 2024 elections might introduce a fresh face from that part of the country.

That being said, my personal prediction is that the next Republican President will be a moderate from the Midwest.

[Roll Roons]

If DeSantis isn't nominated in 2024 or 2028, than Bush will be the last southern conservative nominee. The Republicans will likely nominate candidates from the midwest and the northeast from here on out.

I large agree with this. Cruz and Cotton are really the only other southern Republicans that get any kind of presidential buzz but their respective odds at winning the nomination don't strike me as being particular high.

Even if Cruz or Cotton somehow got the nomination, I don't think either would be a good general election candidate.

[Non Swing Voter]

I really hope the GOP does nominate Cruz.  Would make for a very clear choice.

[ShadowRocket]

If DeSantis isn't nominated in 2024 or 2028, than Bush will be the last southern conservative nominee. The Republicans will likely nominate candidates from the midwest and the northeast from here on out.

I large agree with this. Cruz and Cotton are really the only other southern Republicans that get any kind of presidential buzz but their respective odds at winning the nomination don't strike me as being particular high.

Even if Cruz or Cotton somehow got the nomination, I don't think either would be a good general election candidate.

Agreed. IMO, Cotton would've been best positioned in a timeline where Clinton won in 2016.

He was once talked about as someone who could unite the Trump and establishment wings of the GOP before being displaced by DeSantis.

His time seems to have passed.

[CentristRepublican]

Unless you want to get technical with Trump changing his address to Florida for the 2020 election, the Republicans haven't nominated a conservative from the South (or a Southerner in general) for president or vice president on a ticket since George Bush. Who's next and when?

Actually, I'd argue neither Bush really qualifies as southern, either. Yes, they both were Texan, but TX is a gigantic state and it's really only East Texas that can be considered part of the south. The Bushes came from Western Texas, which is much more western than it is southern, culturally, politically, and demographically. I'd argue West Texas is much more like Arizona than it is like Louisiana. If you aren't counting the Bushes, then we have to go far back. Goldwater was 'southern' in some ways and his core supporters were southern, but he was really southwestern, not southern. I won't include him. Eisenhower was born in Grayson County, Texas, whose southernness is debatable; I'll say it really wasn't southern, either. Dewey was a New Yorker; Willkie was Midwestern; Landon was Kansas; Hoover was Californian; Coolidge was a New Englander; Harding was Ohioan; Hughes was northern; Taft was Ohioan; Roosevelt came from New York; McKinley was Ohioan; Harrison was Indianan; Blaine was from Maine (it rhymes); Garfield was yet another Ohioan, as were Hayes and Grant; Lincoln was an Illinoisan at heart (though he was born in Kentucky); and Fremont was Californian. So unless you include the Whigs as an extension of the GOP (or vice-versa), in which case you get Virginian/Louisianan Zachary Taylor, there are actually no Republicans per se who are from the south.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Unless you want to get technical with Trump changing his address to Florida for the 2020 election, the Republicans haven't nominated a conservative from the South (or a Southerner in general) for president or vice president on a ticket since George Bush. Who's next and when?

Actually, I'd argue neither Bush really qualifies as southern, either. Yes, they both were Texan, but TX is a gigantic state and it's really only East Texas that can be considered part of the south. The Bushes came from Western Texas, which is much more western than it is southern, culturally, politically, and demographically. I'd argue West Texas is much more like Arizona than it is like Louisiana.

They came from the triangle which is not from Western Texas at all, as Dallas and Houston are pretty much southern cities .

[インターネット掲示板ユーザー Punxsutawney Phil]

Unless you want to get technical with Trump changing his address to Florida for the 2020 election, the Republicans haven't nominated a conservative from the South (or a Southerner in general) for president or vice president on a ticket since George Bush. Who's next and when?

Actually, I'd argue neither Bush really qualifies as southern, either. Yes, they both were Texan, but TX is a gigantic state and it's really only East Texas that can be considered part of the south. The Bushes came from Western Texas, which is much more western than it is southern, culturally, politically, and demographically. I'd argue West Texas is much more like Arizona than it is like Louisiana.

They came from the triangle which is not from Western Texas at all, as Dallas and Houston are pretty much southern cities .

If Dallas and Houston are to be in North, South, West, or Midwest, then they have to be grouped with the South.
It's pretty clear-cut there.

[CentristRepublican]

Unless you want to get technical with Trump changing his address to Florida for the 2020 election, the Republicans haven't nominated a conservative from the South (or a Southerner in general) for president or vice president on a ticket since George Bush. Who's next and when?

Actually, I'd argue neither Bush really qualifies as southern, either. Yes, they both were Texan, but TX is a gigantic state and it's really only East Texas that can be considered part of the south. The Bushes came from Western Texas, which is much more western than it is southern, culturally, politically, and demographically. I'd argue West Texas is much more like Arizona than it is like Louisiana.

They came from the triangle which is not from Western Texas at all, as Dallas and Houston are pretty much southern cities .

They lived in Midland, which isn't very far from the New Mexico-Texas border, before moving to Houston. After his marriage to Laura Welch in 1977 the couple returned to Midland. Him being 'southern' is still a very debatable point.