Majority of GOP value loyalty to Trump as lawmakers seek to break from his influence
Cami Mondeaux
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A large majority of Republican voters say that loyalty to Donald Trump is somewhat important for the party, marking a challenge for some GOP lawmakers who are seeking to break from the former president’s influence.
Nearly two-thirds (65%) of registered Republican voters say they want the party to remain loyal to Trump, including 35% who say this loyalty is “very important” and 30% saying it was only “somewhat important,” according to a new poll from CBS News and YouGov. Another 35% say the party does not need to maintain any loyalty toward the former president.
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When it comes to policies and proposals, 81% of Republican voters say they want their lawmakers to have similar priorities to Trump, compared to just 19% who said the opposite, according to the poll. Additionally, 66% of voters say they’d prefer their candidates to view the 2020 election similarly to Trump, with only 34% saying they don’t.
GOP voters are split on how they want their candidates to behave outside of their campaign platform, with 50% saying they want their lawmakers to conduct themselves like Trump and another 50% saying the opposite, the poll showed.
The recent polling comes as several Republican lawmakers have considered breaking from Trump and his lingering influence over the party, especially after the GOP’s disappointing performance in the midterm elections. Although the party appears split at the moment, lawmakers will soon be forced to decide once the 2024 election gets underway.
Trump declared his intent to run for president on Nov. 15, so far making him the only Republican to do so. However, the former president is expected to face a crowded field of nominees — and he must grapple with a growing pile of controversies that threaten to sink his presidential bid before it gets properly started.
While some Republicans have already pledged to support Trump’s reelection bid, others have begun to look to other options. One such alternative could be Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has not yet declared a White House bid but is considered a star within the party.
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Other options could include former Vice President Mike Pence, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.
The CBS News/YouGov poll surveyed 2,144 registered voters between Jan. 4-6 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.