Key takeaways:
- CPAC was notably absent of key potential players in the 2024 race, including Mike Pence and Ron DeSantis.
- Trump topped the straw poll of declared and likely Republican 2024 presidential candidates, earning 62% of the vote.
- The absence of key potential players from CPAC has highlighted the divisions within the party and it remains to be seen who will ultimately emerge as the Republican nominee in the next presidential election.
The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) has long been a must-attend event for Republican presidential candidates, but this year, some key potential players in the 2024 race, including former Vice President Mike Pence and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, were notably absent. This has sparked debate among Republicans about how to best set a new course for the party and nominate someone other than former President Donald Trump in 2024.
At the conference, Trump topped the straw poll of declared and likely Republican 2024 presidential candidates, earning 62% of the vote. However, according to Susan Del Percio, a political analyst for MSNBC, this was a poor result, considering the increasingly Trump-oriented nature of the annual gathering in recent years.
The debate over how to stop Donald Trump was further highlighted on Sunday when former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a moderate voice in the party who had signaled interest in a White House bid, announced he would not run. Some think a small field with a clear alternative to Trump – perhaps Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis – is how the party can best set a new course.
As the Republican party continues to grapple with the question of how to move forward in 2024, the absence of key potential players from CPAC has only further highlighted the divisions within the party. It remains to be seen who will ultimately emerge as the Republican nominee in the next presidential election.
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