Moderate Republicans urge break from Trump and MAGA after midterms

As initial midterm election results in the US indicated that Democrats were gaining the upper hand in Congress, the moderate wing of the Republican Party called for a break from Donald Trump and the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement.

According to Fox News, the group Our Republican Legacy (ORL), representing traditional conservatives within the party, demanded following the midterm results that the party distance itself entirely from the MAGA line.

Founded by former Missouri Senator and former US Permanent Representative to the UN Jack Danforth, and chaired by former Secretary of Defence William Cohen, the group pointed to the defeat suffered by Republicans and released the following statement:

“The Republican Party suffered a crushing defeat. The American people rendered their verdict on the MAGA movement, the ‘America First’ slogan, and the policies of both the current administration and the Republican Congress.”

Debate on the post-Trump era opens within the party

Representatives of the group argued that the party must distance itself from Trump to regain a majority in Congress and retain the White House in 2028.

“Donald Trump will never again lead the Republican Party in a general election,” the statement said. “It is time to begin the debate on the future of a principled Republican Party in the post-Trump era.”

Our Republican Legacy stressed that its primary goal is to put forward a traditional candidate in the 2028 presidential election and secure their election.

The statement added: “As candidates announce their bids and launch presidential campaigns, we will seek the opportunity to back one or more leaders who share our party’s traditional founding principles.”

Chris Vance, the group’s executive director, pointed out that the 2028 campaign has already begun.

Noting that an open struggle for party control will begin soon, Vance said: “Our goal is to help select a Republican presidential nominee committed to Ronald Reagan’s legacy and ensure their election in 2028.”

Moderate conservatives focus on 2028 target

ORL was established in 2024 to prevent Donald Trump’s populist wing from gaining strength and to return the party to a traditional conservative line.

Members of the group include figures such as former Vice President Mike Pence, former Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner, and former Representative Adam Kinzinger.

Having recorded representation across 25 states and approximately 10,000 supporters as of April, the movement aims to consolidate the power of moderates within the party.

On the other hand, the MAGA movement that coalesced around Trump in 2016 rests on the “America First” ideology, encompassing economic nationalism, strict immigration policies, protectionist trade, and non-intervention in foreign conflicts.

Significant rifts persist within the party between traditional conservatives and radical populists.

In the midterms that began on 3 November, Americans went to the polls to decide all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 Senate seats, and governorships in 36 states.

The number of early voters exceeded 50 million, surpassing the 2022 record of 45.9 million.

According to early figures from analysis portal Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ), Democrats secured 228 seats in the House of Representatives and 54 in the Senate, while Republicans remained at 139 seats in the House and 43 in the Senate.