Our new book is titled Divided We Stand: The 2020 Elections and American Politics. Among other things, it discusses the state of the parties.
The state of the GOP is not good.
Janet Hook at LAT writes that Trump is trying to control GOP nominations:
But Trump’s heavy hand in GOP primaries carries risks for his party. Some Republicans fear that some of his endorsements — those based not on electability but on candidates’ loyalty to him and his false claim that the 2020 election was stolen — could make it harder for the party to win in swing states.
“If we as Republicans continue to relitigate a past lost election, we will not position ourselves to win in the midterms,” said John Watson, former Georgia Republican Party chairman. “We have the issues on our side if we will just get out of our own way.”
A former NFL star Trump is promoting for a potential Senate run in Georgia — Herschel Walker — is beloved in the state where he started his career as a Heisman Trophy winner. But he is an untested political novice, and it’s been decades since he lived in Georgia.
In North Carolina, Trump is backing Rep. Ted Budd to replace the state’s retiring Republican senator. Budd, a gun store owner, is an ardent defender of the former president but has trailed in early polling and fundraising.
In Arizona, many Republicans believe Gov. Doug Ducey would be the best candidate against Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly. But Ducey, who has been pummeled by Trump for not doing more to overturn Biden’s 2020 victory in the state, has said he won’t run.
Trump derided him on Ducey’s own turf Saturday, recalling in a Phoenix speech his reaction to Ducey’s possible candidacy. Trump said he was asked, “Sir, would you like him to run for the Senate?” and replied, “He’s not getting my endorsement, I can tell you.”
NEW: An @AP review of records from @HerschelWalker's business and divorce, many not previously reported, detail accusations that he repeatedly threatened to kill his ex-wife, exaggerated his success and alarmed associates. W/@BillBarrowAP, @JZBleiberg https://t.co/IxSQwjnK1R
— Brian Slodysko (@BrianSlodysko) July 23, 2021
NEW: "Trump returns to Arizona, attacks Doug Ducey and predicts ballot review will vindicate him." #AZSEN #AZGOV (with @ronaldjhansen) https://t.co/SfeLTO2v4C
— Dan Nowicki (@dannowicki) July 25, 2021
