GOP Plagued by Infighting, Uncertainty Ahead of 2023

The Republican Party is entering 2023 plagued by uncertainty and division after it failed to score a more decisive victory in the 2022 midterm elections.

Former President Donald Trump, who is running for the White House in 2024, is becoming more and more controversial, according to a report.

‘Republican-on-Republican Attacks’

A year ago, the GOP started 2022 with great hopes it would take back both the Senate and House of Representatives in the midterms, while preparing for reconquering the White House in two years, a report by The Hill recalls.

Yet, a full year later, the future doesn’t look so bright for Republicans who are facing “uncertainty across the board,” author Brett Samuels comments. He notes multiple issues for the GOP – starting with their failure to recapture Congress.

Against that backdrop, former President Trump announced his 2024 candidacy for the presidency. However, he is already losing his formerly unquestionable grip on the Republican Party and may be challenged by several other likely bidders.

The commentary notes Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, is facing an election during the GOPs meetings in January, but her reelection is far from certain.

At the same time, the top Republican in the House, California Rep. Kevin McCarthy, remains short of the votes he needs to become the new Speaker as he faces a challenge from Arizona Republican Andy Biggs.

The report quotes GOP donor and fundraiser Dan Eberhart as pointing out the party’s reset following the midterms is debilitated by “Republican-on-Republican attacks.”

“We just look weak,” he added, insisting the GOP needed a reset if it wanted to be “reinvigorated” for the 2024 election. 

Major Uncertainty in Key Votes

It is noted that the RNC chair election is highly significant for the direction of the Republican Party; some conservatives oppose reelecting Ronna McDaniel as chairwoman. 

During next month’s GOP meeting, McDaniel would need most of the 168 RNC members to retain her seat. 

In mid-December, she had the support of 107. However, Harmeet Dhillon, a former Trump lawyer, is trying to challenge her, with several state GOP leaders urging her to resign over the results of the 2022 midterm election. 

However, supporters of McDaniel say the weaker Republican performance was not her fault and instead blame the “quality” of GOP candidates who got endorsed by former President Trump. 

To top it all off, the Republicans in the Senate may also be seen as being in disarray after Florida’s Rick Scott tried to challenge Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. 

Over in the House of Representatives, at least five Republicans declared they would never back Kevin McCarthy for Speaker, leaving him short of the 218 votes needed to clinch the post on January 3 when the new Congress convenes. 

As the GOP has 222 seats in the House, McCarthy would have to convince one of the five dissenters to switch to his side. 

In another blow to the GOP, George Santos, billed as a gay Latino Republican, was elected to represent New York’s 3rd district. Since then, he been exposed as a liar with multiple falsehoods about his education and professional resume. 

This article appeared in The State Today and has been published here with permission.

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