 | By Ezekiel Kweku Politics Editor, Opinion |
We in the media — and many who follow elections — often get caught up in the horse race aspect of midterms. And of course, who will end up in control of the House and the Senate is a high-stakes question. But just as important is another question: How will the midterms shape the party that is in power? Put another way, if the Republican Party holds Congress, what kind of Republican Party will it be? |
This is the question Sarah Longwell asks in her post-mortem of the Republican primary for the Senate in Ohio, which uses J.D. Vance's victory to frame the rest of primary season. In her analysis, the primaries have already confirmed that former President Donald Trump is firmly in control of the Republican Party. |
This isn't because all of the candidates whom Trump has endorsed are certain to win in the general election or even prevail in their primaries — he's taken long-shot gambles, like endorsing Mehmet Oz for senator in Pennsylvania and David Perdue for governor in Georgia. It's because the question is, in some ways, moot. As Longwell writes: "In races across the country, Republicans who have won Mr. Trump's endorsement mention it constantly. Even those who didn't win his endorsement still mention him constantly. Mr. Trump might not have endorsed them, but they all endorse him." |
Vance's Ohio victory is this dynamic in microcosm. Vance sought and successfully won Trump's endorsement in a crowded field, and it's likely that it was that endorsement that carried him to victory. But Vance, previously a vocal anti-Trump apostate, was not even the candidate with the strongest claim to being an authentic Trumpist. That title belongs to the runner-up, Josh Mandel, whose fealty to Trump is hard to question. In Longwell's view, anyone who thought the Republican Party showed even a hint of moving on from Trump's endorsement should wake up: It's still Trump's party. |
Here's what we're focusing on today: |
Forward this newsletter to friends to share ideas and perspectives that will help inform their lives. They can sign up here. Do you have feedback? Email us at opiniontoday@nytimes.com. |
Contact us If you have questions about your Times account, delivery problems or other issues, visit our Help Page or contact The Times. |
|
No comments:
Post a Comment