Republican infighting seems to be heating up as President Donald Trump (R) takes shot at potential 2024 rivals. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) have not announced their intention to run for the White House, but President Trump has already directed choice comments at both.
While neither Youngkin or DeSantis have responded to Trump’s words, Republicans are now blaming Trump for midterm losses.
With Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto’s (D) win, Democrats officially took control of the Senate. Republicans are still ahead in the House race with 212 seats won compared to 203 seats held by Democrats, but Republicans and political pundits alike are analyzing how President Trump influenced the election.
Shortly after Governor DeSantis’ win by almost 20 points over Florida Rep. Charlie Crist (D), Trump released a statement against “Ron DeSanctimonious.” In the statement, Trump takes credit for DeSantis’ gubernatorial win in 2018, citing that his endorsement gave birth to the rise of DeSantis. Similarly, posting on Truth social, Trump took aim at Youngkin, saying that he couldn’t have won his gubernatorial race without Trump’s help.
“I Endorsed him, did a very big Trump Rally for him telephonically, got MAGA to Vote for him – or he couldn’t have come close to winning,” said Trump, adding that Youngkin “knows that, and admits it. Besides, having a hard time with the Dems in Virginia – But he’ll get it.”
Assessing the 2022 midterm election, Republicans are now saying that Trump directly contributed to the GOP losing races. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R) spoke on a cable news talk show, indicating that November 8th should have been a “red wave.”
“I think common sense conservatives that focused on talking about issues people cared about, like the. Economy and crime and education, they did win. But people who tried to relitigate the 2020 election and focused on conspiracy theories and talked about things the voters didn’t care about were almost universally rejected.”
“Hogan added that “it’s basically the third election in a row that Donald Trump has cost us the race. Three strikes, you’re out.”
