GOP Senators Fear Trump 2016 Repeat with Growing Primary Field.

Top Republican lawmakers have expressed concern about former President Donald Trump’s potential victory in the crowded GOP primary field for the 2024 presidential bid.

The Current Field

• Former Vice President Mike Pence
• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
• Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.)
• Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley
• Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy
• Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson
• Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie
• New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu
• North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who has been critical of Trump’s 2024 bid, suggested that the current field appears to be “a replay of 2016” when Trump emerged from the fray to ultimately become the Republican nominee. He hopes that candidates who don’t obtain enough support will drop out, making it a two- or three-person race.

Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.C.), who endorsed Scott, made similar admissions about the race. He believes that DeSantis hasn’t done well enough to be a clear alternative to Trump.

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.C.), who also backs Scott’s 2024 bid, agreed with Cornyn and other senators by saying that candidates who don’t obtain enough support should leave the race sooner than later.

Pence Enters

Former Vice President Mike Pence filed paperwork on Monday declaring his campaign for president in 2024, setting up a challenge to his former boss. While Trump is currently leading the early fight for the nomination, with DeSantis polling consistently in second, Pence supporters see a lane for a reliable conservative who espouses many of the previous administration’s policies but without the constant tumult.

Notably, Pence supports a national ban on abortion procedures and has campaigned against transgender policies in schools. He has argued that changes to Social Security and Medicare, like raising the age for qualification, should be on the table to keep the programs solvent.