In 2022 midterms, Trump and possible GOP rivals test the waters for 2024 presidential race
No ex-president has injected himself into midterms like Trump has. That creates an unprecedented political environment for him and other Republicans using the midterms to test the presidential waters.
David JacksonWASHINGTON – Aspiring presidential candidates have often used midterm elections to assess their chances in national elections – but no White House wannabes have faced what the Republicans are dealing with in 2022.
The reason is Donald Trump.
No ex-president has injected himself into midterm elections the way Trump has in 2022. No ex-president has used primaries and congressional elections to boost his chances of running again for the White House he lost just two years ago – and no ex-president has operated like this while under criminal investigation.
That creates an unprecedented political environment for other Republicans who are using the midterms to test the presidential waters. Candidates like former Vice President Mike Pence and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are handling the midterms in more traditional ways – giving speeches, endorsing candidates, raising money, collecting IOUs – but all Republicans to some extent are operating in the shadow of Trump.
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