When considering Donald Trump’s association with the Republican Party, terms like “insurgent” and “anti-establishment” might immediately spring to mind. The business tycoon and former reality TV star clinched the 2016 nomination with minimal support from GOP Congress members and governors. However, the political landscape today, just weeks away from the 2024 Iowa caucuses, tells a different story. Trump is no longer the insurgent; he has become the establishment.
Trump’s Dominance in the Endorsement Race
One of the most telling signs of Trump’s establishment status is his lead in the endorsement race. Recently, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu endorsed Nikki Haley, potentially bolstering her candidacy in the Republicans’ first primary state. Similarly, Ron DeSantis received an endorsement from Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds last month. However, these instances are outliers. Approximately 100 Congress members and governors, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and his predecessor Kevin McCarthy, have thrown their support behind Trump.
Since 1980, only Bob Dole in 1996 and George W. Bush in 2000, both establishment figures, have had more endorsements at this stage in a primary without an incumbent. Trump’s endorsement tally also surpasses that of John McCain and Mitt Romney, the two most recent GOP nominees before him, both of whom were part of the GOP establishment that previously tried to thwart Trump.
Trump’s Endorsement Lead Over DeSantis and Haley
Neither DeSantis nor Haley come close to Trump in the endorsement race for 2024. DeSantis has the backing of roughly seven governors and Congress members, while Haley has two, including Sununu. Even combined, their endorsements are dwarfed by Trump’s, who has about ten times as many. This significant number of endorsements bodes well for Trump, considering he won the 2016 Republican nomination without the most endorsements before the Iowa caucuses.
Trump’s Fundraising Prowess
Trump’s 2024 campaign also appears more establishment-oriented than his 2016 bid in terms of fundraising. Trump is the clear fundraising leader among Republicans, with his political operation raking in over $45 million in the most recent quarter. In contrast, DeSantis and Haley lagged far behind, with hauls of about $15 million and $11 million, respectively. This is a stark contrast to the same quarter in 2015, when Trump raised just $3.9 million and wasn’t even among the top five Republican candidates.
Trump’s Shift from Insurgent to Establishment
Trump’s fundraising prowess is indicative of his shift from an insurgent candidate to an establishment figure. This transformation began once he entered the general election in 2016 and has continued ever since. Today, Trump’s fundraising efforts resemble those of Jeb Bush, the GOP fundraising leader in the 2016 presidential primary, who was a vocal Trump critic.
Trump’s Strength in Polls Among College-Educated Voters
Trump’s strength extends to the polls, where he outperforms his rivals among white voters with at least a college degree, a group typically associated with the establishment. A recent Monmouth University poll showed Trump securing 41% of the vote among this group, with DeSantis, his closest competitor, garnering just 24%. This is a significant increase from a similar period leading up to the 2016 primary, when a CNN/ORC poll found Trump with less than half that support among college-educated voters (18%).
Trump’s Broad-Based Support
Trump’s advantage extends beyond those with a college degree to those with a postgraduate degree, the educational group with which he performed worst in 2016. A recent Pew Research Center poll found him leading among these voters as well. The bottom line is that Trump’s support appears to have no significant weaknesses at this stage. Having won in 2016 without the backing of the establishment or the most money, Trump now has both, positioning him well for the 2024 Republican contest.
Neither DeSantis nor Haley come close to Trump in the endorsement race for 2024. DeSantis has the backing of roughly seven governors and Congress members, while Haley has two, including Sununu. Even combined, their endorsements are dwarfed by Trump’s, who has about ten times as many. This significant number of endorsements bodes well for Trump, considering he won the 2016 Republican nomination without the most endorsements before the Iowa caucuses.
Trump’s Fundraising Prowess
Trump’s 2024 campaign also appears more establishment-oriented than his 2016 bid in terms of fundraising. Trump is the clear fundraising leader among Republicans, with his political operation raking in over $45 million in the most recent quarter. In contrast, DeSantis and Haley lagged far behind, with hauls of about $15 million and $11 million, respectively. This is a stark contrast to the same quarter in 2015, when Trump raised just $3.9 million and wasn’t even among the top five Republican candidates.
Trump’s Shift from Insurgent to Establishment
Trump’s fundraising prowess is indicative of his shift from an insurgent candidate to an establishment figure. This transformation began once he entered the general election in 2016 and has continued ever since. Today, Trump’s fundraising efforts resemble those of Jeb Bush, the GOP fundraising leader in the 2016 presidential primary, who was a vocal Trump critic.
Trump’s Strength in Polls Among College-Educated Voters
Trump’s strength extends to the polls, where he outperforms his rivals among white voters with at least a college degree, a group typically associated with the establishment. A recent Monmouth University poll showed Trump securing 41% of the vote among this group, with DeSantis, his closest competitor, garnering just 24%. This is a significant increase from a similar period leading up to the 2016 primary, when a CNN/ORC poll found Trump with less than half that support among college-educated voters (18%).
Trump’s Broad-Based Support
Trump’s advantage extends beyond those with a college degree to those with a postgraduate degree, the educational group with which he performed worst in 2016. A recent Pew Research Center poll found him leading among these voters as well. The bottom line is that Trump’s support appears to have no significant weaknesses at this stage. Having won in 2016 without the backing of the establishment or the most money, Trump now has both, positioning him well for the 2024 Republican contest.
Trump’s fundraising prowess is indicative of his shift from an insurgent candidate to an establishment figure. This transformation began once he entered the general election in 2016 and has continued ever since. Today, Trump’s fundraising efforts resemble those of Jeb Bush, the GOP fundraising leader in the 2016 presidential primary, who was a vocal Trump critic.
Trump’s Strength in Polls Among College-Educated Voters
Trump’s strength extends to the polls, where he outperforms his rivals among white voters with at least a college degree, a group typically associated with the establishment. A recent Monmouth University poll showed Trump securing 41% of the vote among this group, with DeSantis, his closest competitor, garnering just 24%. This is a significant increase from a similar period leading up to the 2016 primary, when a CNN/ORC poll found Trump with less than half that support among college-educated voters (18%).
Trump’s Broad-Based Support
Trump’s advantage extends beyond those with a college degree to those with a postgraduate degree, the educational group with which he performed worst in 2016. A recent Pew Research Center poll found him leading among these voters as well. The bottom line is that Trump’s support appears to have no significant weaknesses at this stage. Having won in 2016 without the backing of the establishment or the most money, Trump now has both, positioning him well for the 2024 Republican contest.
Trump’s advantage extends beyond those with a college degree to those with a postgraduate degree, the educational group with which he performed worst in 2016. A recent Pew Research Center poll found him leading among these voters as well. The bottom line is that Trump’s support appears to have no significant weaknesses at this stage. Having won in 2016 without the backing of the establishment or the most money, Trump now has both, positioning him well for the 2024 Republican contest.