The Sweep: The GOP 2024 Primer Concluded

We round out our 2024 list with some celebrity candidates and take a look at a special election in Ohio.

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We’re finally done! Here’s our last installment of potential 2024 candidates—the celebrities. 

Following that, we’ve got a full rundown of everyone we’ve covered with links back to their initial descriptions.

The Celebrities

Tucker Carlson: The Platform

52 years old, Host of Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News

Known for his half inquisitive, half accusatory monologues, Tucker Carlson has quickly become one of the most influential voices in the conservative sphere since the debut of his show on Fox News in 2016. To the three million viewers who watch his show nightly, Carlson is a symbol of defiance against corrupt elites who censor conservative views and subvert American democracy. To his critics, Carlson is a voice of “white grievance” and a peddler of conspiracy theories.

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  1. Avatar photo
    Jason Gibson

    What a terrible recall format!!!

    No wonder I'm anti recall (as much as I dislike Governor Gretchen Whitmer I'm opposed to a recall)

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    Ben Connelly

    Dwayne the Rock Johnson…

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    Ohio Gas Hog

    You forgot one celebrity off you your list of potential candidates....David French!

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  4. Raincheck

    In California, Newsom will probably survive. The Davis recall had a big name alternative in Ahhnold. It was a two man race, Davis was unpopular, and Schwarzenegger was fun. In this race, you might say no to Newsom, but then what? What alternative is motivating voters?

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      Narwhal

      Don’t sleep on Larry Elder. He is good at what he does and he has been doing it a long time. He is also a minor celebrity with some. Many Republicans and conservatives in California know who he is and have listened to his radio show more than once or twice.

      Also, the pork/bacon issue may hand Elder a massive gift depending on how Newsom handles it and what his stance on it was when the legislation passed.

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    2. Griffin Gasink

      Yes the most serious republican challenger is a member of the Kardashian family, after that its the roaring bear guy.

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      1. David R

        The most serious challenger is former San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer. Because of all the unserious people running, he's likely not going to win.

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      2. James D

        I frankly don't get the monomaniacal focus on the recall in the broader media sphere in the first place. Even if Newsom does get recalled CA will never have a GOP governor in the current environment, and certainly not one with close ties to Trump. If by some twist of fate Jenner or some other Republican squeaks through, they'll just be immediately recalled themselves. Whether or not Newsom hangs on, CA is a deep blue state and it's going to have a D governor at the end of the day.

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    Dave

    I think Sarah has Cruz too highly rated. He’s managed to piss off the pro- and anti-Trump factions.

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    1. James D

      I think Cruz is shamelessly reptilian enough to get most of the way there, but also too shamelessly reptilian to get all of the way there. He reeks of inauthenticity, which is a big part of why Trump was able to club him so badly in the 2016 primary.

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        Dave

        I love that description. I agree 100%.

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      Paul B

      I agree and disagree…yes, Trumpkin primary voters recognize their marriage of convenience with Cruz, but they also give him a lot of credit for his raw obsequiousness towards Trump the past 5 years. He’s everyone’s third choice.
      As for the anti-Trump factions, welcome to the Remnant! Don’t expect the Manhattan DA to come riding over the hill. If he gets indicted, he gets another grievance to talk about at rallies. It won’t change anything, and all he has to do is not set foot in one of the deepest blue states in the nation.

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    Show Jay Janney the 🚪!

    I'd add Clay Travis to this list. He inherited Rush's EIB spots, and has that support. He founded Outkick selling it to Fox, so he has FU money in his pocket, like Portnoy. He's clever and articulate.

    Can he win? Hell no. Nor can Tucker Carlson nor Dave Portnoy, but they would be entertaining characters.

    It's too early. I suspect Trump fades, and the Trumpism loses its power. Mike Pence might survive, but doubtful (he's a very strong organization man, and has been working relationships since 2017). I think Nikki Haley, if she can get traction will be perfect to go against Kamala Harris. She'd negate a lot of the Kamala Harris identity benefits.

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  7. Vitaly

    There are some names on this list (Pompeo, DeSantis, Hogan, Scott) for whom I would definitely consider voting

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    1. James D

      Pompeo is an autocratic bully, I'd reconsider. His antics in regards to VOA alone demonstrate that he's a tin-pot dictator who would engage in exactly the same kind of authoritarian fantasies and behavior as Trump. In case you missed it (NPR, I know, but the basic facts are sound - I followed what happened to VOA at the end of the admin very closely and it was very disturbing)
      https://www.npr.org/2021/01/12/955976976/voice-of-america-white-house-reporter-reassigned-after-questioning-pompeo

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  8. dan o.

    "Tucker Carlson has quickly become one of the most influential voices in the conservative sphere..." That makes me sad. I want the editors at The Dispatch to be the most influential voice.

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    Victor Clairmont

    Me:

    Oh a new sweep! Let’s see what insights Sarah and the team have today!

    Sarah: So Tucker Carlson…..

    Me:

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO (NSA Unmasked him!) OOOOOOOOooooooooooOoOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

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    Narwhal

    Based on the little I know, I think Sen. Cotton will win the nomination if Trump doesn’t run. He fits the moment better than the others IMO.

    If President Biden doesn’t run for a second term then the debates between Sen. Cotton and VP Harris could be fiery. If President Biden does run for a second term then I’d have to give the edge to Sen. Cotton in the debates right now because he is quick and sharp.

    The Democrats may have a 2024 problem if Trump doesn’t run.

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    1. James D

      I don't think Cotton does well at the national level, if he somehow got through a primary. He lacks charisma, is incapable of tacking towards the center (remember, Trump was perceived as the more moderate candidate in 2016) and the nativist stuff he's pushing with extreme immigration restrictions won't go over too well.

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        Narwhal

        I don’t think I would vote for him. But, he has the “he fights” thing. Which is one of the reasons why I think he fits the moment for Republican primary voters.

        He has collected some “scars” over the last several years which he can display as evidence that he fights, such as the way the NYT staff, and some other parts of the media, responded to his Op-Ed. He is smart and well educated. He seems to be cunning and ruthless, which whether I like it or not are two traits which often help someone succeed in politics. He also doesn’t shy away from being perceived as cunning and ruthless as far as I can tell, and again whether I like it or not that appeals to some.

        I’m not claiming he is a lock to win a general election. I’m saying that if Trump doesn’t run I think he has the best chance of winning the Republican nomination. And if Biden doesn’t run for re-election I can see a Harris vs Cotton general election campaign getting chippy and ugly very quickly. This is not something I welcome, just something I can see happening.

        I would much prefer seeing Romney vs Biden in 2024. I don’t think that general election campaign would quickly get chippy and ugly. And I think going from Biden receiving one term to Romney for one term, possibly two terms, could be a good thing for our country.

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        1. James D

          I think Cotton has a lot of substance to him, don't get me wrong. But the GOP base is obsessed with charisma-based cult-of-personality style politics right now, and Cotton can't deliver on that in a primary.

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            Narwhal

            If Trump doesn’t run then it is very unlikely anyone who does will have his decades of experience with and exposure from being a celebrity.

            I think you are underestimating the appeal that being and being perceived as cunning and ruthless played in Trump’s success and could play in Cotton’s success.

            I much prefer Sen. Romney. He may be somewhat cunning and ruthless, I suppose that is arguable, but he clearly makes an effort not to be perceived that way to whatever extent he actually is.

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