# GOP 2020 primary challenger(s) to Trump **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 15, 2019, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-2020-primary-challenger-s-to-trump/829597 "2019-02-15T15:59:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-2020-primary-challenger-s-to-trump/829597/21 "2019-02-21T07:30:21Z")
Kasich does not have a shot in hell of accomplishing anything; he’s a sad-sack and utterly lacking in the competitive spirit that wins campaigns. He seems like he’s probably an OK guy, but does not remotely have it in him to challenge Trump. Jeff Flake is far worse. Flake talked a big game against Donald Trump and how he’s “debased the presidency”, in his own words, but just like John McCain, when he had the chance to _actually stage a meaningful protest against Trump_ - the cabinet appointment confirmations - what did he do? NOTHING! He could have lodged a protest vote against one of the more egregiously horrible appointees, like Betsy DeVos, and gone down in history as the ONE guy who had the guts to stand up to Trump and make a difference. Nope, instead he mindlessly voted to confirm every single one of them; he bestowed his official blessing on Donald Trump’s judgment. That was his chance to take a stand, and he chose to lay prostrate instead. He’s a pathetic piece of shit. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-2020-primary-challenger-s-to-trump/829597/22 "2019-03-04T14:35:39Z")
Justin Amash, a Republican Congressman from Michigan and occasional Trump critic, won’t rule out a third-party challenge to the President next year: [Rep. Justin Amash not ruling out third party presidential bid in 2020 | Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rep-justin-amash-not-ruling-out-third-party-presidential-bid-in-2020) ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-2020-primary-challenger-s-to-trump/829597/23 "2019-03-04T16:03:19Z")
Can’t click the link, why 3rd party? ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-2020-primary-challenger-s-to-trump/829597/24 "2019-03-04T16:05:55Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > Kasich does not have a shot in hell of accomplishing anything; he’s a sad-sack and utterly lacking in the competitive spirit that wins campaigns. He seems like he’s probably an OK guy, but does not remotely have it in him to challenge Trump. > > Jeff Flake is far worse. Flake talked a big game against Donald Trump and how he’s “debased the presidency”, in his own words, but just like John McCain, when he had the chance to _actually stage a meaningful protest against Trump_ - the cabinet appointment confirmations - what did he do? NOTHING! He could have lodged a protest vote against one of the more egregiously horrible appointees, like Betsy DeVos, and gone down in history as the ONE guy who had the guts to stand up to Trump and make a difference. Nope, instead he mindlessly voted to confirm every single one of them; he bestowed his official blessing on Donald Trump’s judgment. > > That was his chance to take a stand, and he chose to lay prostrate instead. He’s a pathetic piece of shit. As much as I hate to indulge in _that_ school of humor…he lives up to his name. > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Justin Amash, a Republican Congressman from Michigan and occasional Trump critic, won’t rule out a third-party challenge to the President next year: [Rep. Justin Amash not ruling out third party presidential bid in 2020 | Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rep-justin-amash-not-ruling-out-third-party-presidential-bid-in-2020) > [@bobot](#): > > Can’t click the link, why 3rd party? He likes to waste time and money. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-2020-primary-challenger-s-to-trump/829597/25 "2019-03-04T16:36:19Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Can’t click the link, why 3rd party? So he can stick around after the primaries? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-2020-primary-challenger-s-to-trump/829597/26 "2019-03-04T16:37:08Z")
He might be more comfortable, and more likely to actually win a nomination, as a/the Libertarian candidate. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-2020-primary-challenger-s-to-trump/829597/27 "2019-03-04T16:45:12Z")
I see. He uses Republican as a label when it suits him. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2019, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-2020-primary-challenger-s-to-trump/829597/28 "2019-03-04T18:35:31Z")
If his goal is to get rid of Trump, then he probably will do more to accomplish that by running as an independent/third party than by trying to primary him. And it’s not like he’s got a great chance of winning himself via either route. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-2020-primary-challenger-s-to-trump/829597/29 "2019-03-08T04:42:32Z")
No one’s going to beat Trump in the primaries if Trump contests them, although he might get his nose bloodied a bit. Now, Trump might get hauled off to Guantanamo if the Mueller report is damning enough. But in a scenario where he muddles along about the same as now, I still think he might decide to just “retire undefeated”, finish out his single term, and let other Republicans contest the 2020 nomination. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-2020-primary-challenger-s-to-trump/829597/30 "2019-03-08T05:12:55Z")
Yes. I could easily see him declaring he’d already MAGA’d in a single term (“It’d take any other President two terms, or maybe three!”), pardoning himself and going off to write his memoirs, which would of course be _the best_. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-2020-primary-challenger-s-to-trump/829597/31 "2019-03-08T06:00:54Z")
LOL He’d of course claim they sold more than any other memoirs, regardless of the reality. (They might indeed sell well!) ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-2020-primary-challenger-s-to-trump/829597/32 "2019-03-08T10:37:53Z")
Huh. Where’s Romney Mittens when ya need him? ( shudders, takes shower, extra soap ) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-2020-primary-challenger-s-to-trump/829597/33 "2019-03-08T11:05:24Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > Huh. Where’s Romney Mittens when ya need him? I never do. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-2020-primary-challenger-s-to-trump/829597/34 "2019-03-11T18:42:48Z")
40% of Iowa Republicans say they hope the President faces a primary challenger next year: [Iowa Poll: Trump remains strong among Iowa Republicans, but some hope for a challenger | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/11/politics/cnn-poll-iowa-republicans-trump/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-2020-primary-challenger-s-to-trump/829597/35 "2019-08-22T14:10:38Z")
Former Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh may get in: [Walsh says he is 'strongly, strongly considering' challenging Trump in Republican primary | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/22/politics/joe-walsh-2020-republican-primary-cnntv/index.html) As may former South Carolina Congressman and Governor Mark Sanford (he of Appalachian Trail fame): [Mark Sanford may primary Donald Trump in 2020 | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/18/politics/mark-sanford-primary-2020-republicans/index.html) I’ve adapted my letter from post 15 and will be sending it to both. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-2020-primary-challenger-s-to-trump/829597/36 "2019-08-22T14:15:52Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Former Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh may get in: [https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/22/politics/joe-walsh-2020-republican-primary-cnntv/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/22/politics/joe-walsh-2020-republican-primary-cnntv/index.html) > > … That’s refreshing. The Republican party isn’t crazy enough the way it is. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-2020-primary-challenger-s-to-trump/829597/37 "2019-08-24T21:03:23Z")
“Mooch” is trying to put something together. Referred to 45 as “trumpnobyl”. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-2020-primary-challenger-s-to-trump/829597/38 "2019-08-24T21:24:31Z")
Yeah, he’s white-hot pissed off after Trump attacked his wife. On HBO last night, Bill Maher was practically begging normal Republicans to challenge Trump in the primaries—and then for the one who gets the most votes to run as an independent to spoil the election for Trump and help Democrats. In any halfway normal cycle, I would absolutely welcome this. In 2004, 2000, basically any election I can think of in my lifetime, a move like that from a prominent Republican would definitely help the Democratic nominee. But this time I am not so sure, and I am uneasy about that idea. Trump is so beyond the pale that I think there are a decent number of Republicans who would be interested in voting against him. But I think if there is no prominent Republican running as an independent, a lot of those people are likely to vote for the Democrat. Therefore I’m not sure this wouldn’t actually take more votes away from the Democratic candidate than from Trump. It introduces more uncertainty and variance, which is great if we are the underdogs but in this case gets a little too cute IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2019, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-2020-primary-challenger-s-to-trump/829597/39 "2019-08-25T14:56:57Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Former Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh may get in: [https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/22/politics/joe-walsh-2020-republican-primary-cnntv/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/22/politics/joe-walsh-2020-republican-primary-cnntv/index.html)… Yup, he’s in: [https://www.aol.com/article/news/2019/08/25/joe-walsh-becomes-second-republican-to-challenge-trump-for-white-house/23801024/](https://www.aol.com/article/news/2019/08/25/joe-walsh-becomes-second-republican-to-challenge-trump-for-white-house/23801024/) ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2019, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-2020-primary-challenger-s-to-trump/829597/40 "2019-08-25T22:46:22Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > … Trump is so beyond the pale that I think there are a decent number of Republicans who would be interested in voting against him. But I think if there is no prominent Republican running as an independent, a lot of those people are likely to vote for the Democrat. Therefore I’m not sure this wouldn’t actually take more votes away from the Democratic candidate than from Trump. It introduces more uncertainty and variance, which is great if we are the underdogs but in this case gets a little too cute IMO. I think you have a fair point, here. So I’m cheered by the Joe Walsh news: he’s not going to pull any ‘sane/centrist Republican’ votes away from the Democrat. This candidacy has to be giving the Trumpites kittens. Walsh has a lot of fans in common with Trump, and he’s famous for saying kinda racist stuff (among other things). There’s not much Trump’s people can say to try to bring down Walsh. The stuff that would hurt Walsh with the general public is stuff that endears him to Trump fans! This could be good. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-2020-primary-challenger-s-to-trump/829597.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-2020-primary-challenger-s-to-trump/829597.md?page=3)