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How much will former President Trump influence down-ballot voting for GOP candidates in the 2024 election? Many Republicans are concerned Trump’s legal woes could negatively impact the chances for other GOP candidates in 2024, in the same way Trump’s involvement in the 2022 midterm elections was thought to be a factor in Republicans losing seats in the House.
Straight Arrow News contributor David Pakman believes Republicans shouldn’t underestimate Trump’s ability to turn off GOP voters and dampen voter turnout in 2024.
There are three basic scenarios that we could think about in terms of the way that Trump’s nomination attempt is going to go, and how that might relate or influence other Republicans.
The view that some are taking, which I think is a view that is extraordinarily risky, is that whatever happens in the Republican nomination, whether Trump wins or whether Trump loses, it won’t impact down-ballot Republicans in 2024.
If you are a Republican senator, up for reelection every six years, and it just so happens you’re up for reelection in November of 2024, your victory or defeat will be based solely on what’s going on in your state, your campaign, and whether Trump is the nominee and wins, Trump is the nominee and loses, or Trump is not the nominee — it won’t affect your reelection chances at all.
I believe that that is an extraordinarily risky and short-sighted perspective.
