Senate Republicans want Trump to stay away from 2024 race

Former President Donald Trump's fellow Republicans, inlcuding even some of his strongest allies, want him to stay away from the 2024 races, amid his legal troubles.

Senate Republicans, including members of leadership, say Trump should stay out of the 2024 Senate primaries, in order to avoid a repeat of last year’s disappointing midterm elections.  

Trump, who announced his presidential campaign in November, has become the first former US president to face criminal charges after a grand jury voted to indict him in New York over a hush-money payment made to the adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election.

He was charged with 34 felony counts related to payments to two women and could also face additional charges from federal prosecutors and the Fulton County district attorney.

Republican lawmakers fear he will mire GOP candidates in debates over his pet issues such as election fraud and defunding the Department of Justice instead of issues that matter to voters such as the economy, inflation and health care.  

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They also worry that Trump’s endorsements again will be more driven by how he perceives candidates’ loyalty to him and his agenda than on their electability in November.  

Senate Republican Whip John Thune said it would be better if Trump stayed out of the way.

“Sure seems like that would be helpful based on our lack of success in 2022,” he said.  

Senator Lindsey Graham also said, “If I were him, I’d focus on his own election, but I doubt if he’ll take that advice.”

Many GOP lawmakers believe Trump hurt Republicans’ chances in Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania by endorsing candidates whom Republicans in Washington did not view as the candidates with the best chances of winning the general election.  

“I hope he [Trump] stays out because him getting involved last time led to us losing key Senate races we could have won,” said Senator Mitt Romney, who voted twice to convict the former president on impeachment charges.

“I think it’s viewed [that way] by almost every single member of the caucus, if not all of them, but I think few will say it because they don’t want to get the wrath of Donald Trump,” he added.

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A Republican strategist and former Senate leadership aide Ron Bonjean said, “Trump has a very poor track record of backing top-tier candidates that can get elected to the Senate.”

“It’s no wonder that Senate Republicans want Trump to stay away from the primaries as much as possible because he’s been radioactive in the general elections,” he added.

Some Senate Republicans thought Trump dragged down candidates in the general election by making it tougher for them to appeal to moderate and swing voters. 

Trump, however, insists that the indictment and other legal troubles would carry him to the 2024 Republican nomination.

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