# If DJT croaks before November, could Ivanka replace him on the ballot? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 11, 2020, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-djt-croaks-before-november-could-ivanka-replace-him-on-the-ballot/853573 "2020-05-11T08:47:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-djt-croaks-before-november-could-ivanka-replace-him-on-the-ballot/853573/1 "2020-05-11T08:47:01Z")
Opinions, please. With daddy gone, could the GOP base and leadership see Ivanka as a viable candidate? ---
**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:** [May 11, 2020, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-djt-croaks-before-november-could-ivanka-replace-him-on-the-ballot/853573/2 "2020-05-11T10:17:14Z")
Legally - she probably could if the RNC so desired. Practically, it’d almost certainly be Pence at this point. Excluding him would be a massive sign that the RNC had no confidence in him, which would undermine their campaign in a big way. At the most, they’d put Ivanka in as Pence’s VP candidate and frankly they’re more likely to put a stronger personality in there to counter Pence’s blandness - maybe Tom Cotton or someone like that. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-djt-croaks-before-november-could-ivanka-replace-him-on-the-ballot/853573/3 "2020-05-11T12:16:10Z")
> [@RioRico](#): > > Opinions, please. With daddy gone, could the GOP base and leadership see Ivanka as a viable candidate? No. This is like talking about running Oprah Winfrey for President, except more so. There’s a lot of talk nowadays about the two political sides in America not understanding each other or each other’s motivations. This is, I think, an example. Regards, Shodan ---
**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:** [May 11, 2020, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-djt-croaks-before-november-could-ivanka-replace-him-on-the-ballot/853573/4 "2020-05-11T13:17:33Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > No. > > This is like talking about running Oprah Winfrey for President, except more so. > > There’s a lot of talk nowadays about the two political sides in America not understanding each other or each other’s motivations. This is, I think, an example. > > Regards, > Shodan I’m not sure the view that Ivanka would ever be a viable candidate for the presidency is given much serious consideration by many of any political persuasion. Idle musings, sure, but while I’m trying hard not to fight the hypothetical here, let’s face it - Ivanka brings very, very little to the table to appeal to the RNC or the wider electorate. So while the answer to the question “could she” is probably “yes”, the answer to “would she” is a pretty solid “no” unless some particularly extreme circumstances apply. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-djt-croaks-before-november-could-ivanka-replace-him-on-the-ballot/853573/5 "2020-05-11T13:34:23Z")
She could in the sense that I could or any other citizen 35 and older. She won’t because nobody would take her seriously, unless US foreign relations suddenly begins to hinge around handbag designs. Even then it might be better to have a successful handbag designer. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-djt-croaks-before-november-could-ivanka-replace-him-on-the-ballot/853573/6 "2020-05-11T15:25:59Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > No. > > This is like talking about running Oprah Winfrey for President, except more so. > > There’s a lot of talk nowadays about the two political sides in America not understanding each other or each other’s motivations. This is, I think, an example. > > Regards, > Shodan To be fair, Oprah is not now and never has been in a government position. Whereas Ivanka could reasonably claim government experience. In addition to the obvious nepotism patronage of putting her on the government payroll, a long-game view could support the strategy that this was intended to build her cred for future runs for office. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-djt-croaks-before-november-could-ivanka-replace-him-on-the-ballot/853573/7 "2020-05-11T17:13:16Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > This is like talking about running Oprah Winfrey for President, except more so. > > There’s a lot of talk nowadays about the two political sides in America not understanding each other or each other’s motivations. This is, I think, an example. Who are you pointing that finger at? The Democrats have not nominated Oprah Winfrey. The Republicans have nominated Reagan and Trump. And Arnold Schwarzenegger and Clint Eastwood and Fred Thompson and Sonny Bono and Fred Grandy and George Murphy and Sonny Landham. Saying the Republicans are more likely to pick a celebrity does not indicate a lack of understanding. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-djt-croaks-before-november-could-ivanka-replace-him-on-the-ballot/853573/8 "2020-05-11T23:31:40Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > No. > > This is like talking about running Oprah Winfrey for President, except more so. > > There’s a lot of talk nowadays about the two political sides in America not understanding each other or each other’s motivations. This is, I think, an example. > > Regards, > Shodan No one with any sense is suggesting Ivanka as a viable candidate, but of course, that’s not a bar to [a whole lot](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jan/04/donald-trump-jr-ivanka-trump-2024-presidential-election-poll)of Republicans suggesting exactly that. ---
**Author:** ![pjacks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@pjacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjacks)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-djt-croaks-before-november-could-ivanka-replace-him-on-the-ballot/853573/9 "2020-05-12T00:25:04Z")
Donald Trump Jr is obviously being set up as the heir to the political dynasty / family grift, so it would be him instead of Ivanka. And it would be most likely as Pence’s VP instead of the top of the ticket, in order to placate the MAGA cult without scaring away the more cultured degenerates of the party. ---
**Author:** ![Philliam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/philliam/32/3011_2.png) [@Philliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philliam)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-djt-croaks-before-november-could-ivanka-replace-him-on-the-ballot/853573/10 "2020-05-21T17:57:01Z")
> [@pjacks](#): > > Donald Trump Jr is obviously being set up as the heir to the political dynasty / family grift, so it would be him instead of Ivanka. And it would be most likely as Pence’s VP instead of the top of the ticket, in order to placate the MAGA cult without scaring away the more cultured degenerates of the party. So, Butthead first, then Beavis? Horrified Onlookers look on with horror. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-djt-croaks-before-november-could-ivanka-replace-him-on-the-ballot/853573/11 "2020-05-21T18:41:18Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > There’s a lot of talk nowadays about the two political sides in America not understanding each other or each other’s motivations. This is, I think, an example. I don’t. I do not know if the OP really thought this could be a serious possibility or was just spitballing but I do not think anyone, on either side, would consider this as a legit possibility for more than two seconds. I admit I do not get conservatives but even I would not entertain this as a serious possibility. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-djt-croaks-before-november-could-ivanka-replace-him-on-the-ballot/853573/12 "2020-05-21T18:44:16Z")
With Trump gone, there is not a single reason why the Republican Party would choose Ivanka as the next candidate. They might not even nominate Pence. I expect someone like Tom Cotton or Ben Sasse to lead the charge. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-djt-croaks-before-november-could-ivanka-replace-him-on-the-ballot/853573/13 "2020-05-21T18:58:52Z")
Why would the GOP care about Trump’s family once he’s dead? What use are they? ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-djt-croaks-before-november-could-ivanka-replace-him-on-the-ballot/853573/14 "2020-05-21T19:41:35Z")
I’m not a republican but I do lean to the conservative side. IMO the conservative party has a much more positive opinion of Ivanka vs Donald & Ivana. She’s smart, attractive, morally aligned with most on the right, doesn’t have nudes online, and she doesn’t embarrass herself every other day. This doesn’t necessarily mean she’d be a good candidate of course. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-djt-croaks-before-november-could-ivanka-replace-him-on-the-ballot/853573/15 "2020-05-21T20:08:01Z")
Missed the edit window: wrong wife. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-djt-croaks-before-november-could-ivanka-replace-him-on-the-ballot/853573/16 "2020-05-21T20:22:29Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Why would the GOP care about Trump’s family once he’s dead? What use are they? Well, that would depend on their constituency, wouldn’t it? If they got a clear signal from a large enough percentage of their voters that that’s the path to victory, they might. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-djt-croaks-before-november-could-ivanka-replace-him-on-the-ballot/853573/17 "2020-05-21T20:26:34Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > They might not even nominate Pence. Pence would motivate the evangelical vote, which is one of the few groups left the Republicans can plausibly appeal to. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-djt-croaks-before-november-could-ivanka-replace-him-on-the-ballot/853573/18 "2020-05-21T22:24:27Z")
> [@Dark\_Sponge](#): > > I’m not a republican but I do lean to the conservative side. IMO the conservative party has a much more positive opinion of Ivanka vs Donald & Ivana. She’s smart, attractive, morally aligned with most on the right, doesn’t have nudes online, and she doesn’t embarrass herself every other day. > > This doesn’t necessarily mean she’d be a good candidate of course. I’ll just [leave this here.](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/80/e9/8c/80e98cd28bf54ff06ee53aba674673d0.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-djt-croaks-before-november-could-ivanka-replace-him-on-the-ballot/853573/19 "2020-05-21T22:27:36Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Pence would motivate the evangelical vote, which is one of the few groups left the Republicans can plausibly appeal to. Evangelicals are downright reliable republican voters. Bigly! Who else are they going to vote for? The only question with that group is who can compete to show they are the biggest racist asshole. I know that sounds provocative but really…that’s who they go for. The TEA Party turned it all in to a race to the bottom. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-djt-croaks-before-november-could-ivanka-replace-him-on-the-ballot/853573/20 "2020-05-22T02:02:52Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Evangelicals are downright reliable republican voters. Bigly! > > Who else are they going to vote for? > > The only question with that group is who can compete to show they are the biggest racist asshole. I know that sounds provocative but really…that’s who they go for. The TEA Party turned it all in to a race to the bottom. I know there are people on this board who will disagree but most devout Christians are not racist assholes. So the fact that Trump and his people have gone after the racist asshole vote has shaken their grip on the evangelical vote. That’s one of the reasons he picked Pence as his running mate; he needed to reassure Christian voters. It’s not like Biden is going to scare away evangelical voters. They might not vote for Biden but they’re not going to necessarily show up to vote against Biden. Even Trump knows he can’t take the evangelical vote for granted this year. It’s why he’s started scheduling religious events in his campaign and allowing Pence to stand next to him at briefings. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-djt-croaks-before-november-could-ivanka-replace-him-on-the-ballot/853573.md?page=2)