This presidential election may be the oddest thing that has happened in recent American history. For the Republicans, the election has resembled a circus starring Donald Trump as the ringleader. The Democratic primaries are being won by a candidate currently under FBI investigation. While 2016 is interesting, it doesn’t hurt to look ahead to 2020 at potential candidates for one side of the aisle.
Nikki Haley (R-South Carolina)
Since her GOP response to President Obama’s last State of the Union speech, the current governor of South Carolina has been in the rumor mill about potentially being the running mate for one of the 2016 Republican presidential candidates. But with the field withering down and Trump’s chances of securing the nomination on the rise, Madam Vice President Nikki Haley, seems like a title out of touch with reality. 2020 is an appealing election year for younger politicians. Gov. Haley, an Indian American from South Carolina, has historically polled well with millennial Republicans in her home state. 2020 will be the first election year that all millennials in America will be eligible to vote.
Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas)
Senator Cotton (38) is currently the youngest senator in congress. Out of Harvard Law, he worked at a few law firms before enlisting in the military. While in the military, he was deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. After his service, he pursued a congressional seat in his home state of Arkansas. The Republican establishment strongly supports this young senator as he brings new energy to the conservative movement. That being said, Tom Cotton’s path to the presidency won’t be easy. As a junior senator, it is inevitable that Cotton will run into challenges about his resume, similar to the criticism Sen. Rubio faced during his campaign. But with the establishment’s support and well-shaped message, Tom Cotton is a potential candidate in 2020.
Marco Rubio (R-Florida)
His name isn’t so unfamiliar now, but when the first-term, Cuban American senator first made his appearance in the race, he was just another candidate out of the 18 the GOP presented voters with in 2016. After proving his captivating abilities as an orator and charming America with his charisma, Senator Rubio captured voters of all demographics with the inspiring story of his parents, political refugees who escaped to South Florida from Cuba. Marco Rubio is not running to be reelected to his senate seat once his term expires. He is reportedly going to become a private citizen once again. That doesn’t mean his career in politics is over though. Marco Rubio is just 44-years-old and he’s already defeated his mentor, former Florida governor Jeb Bush. In any other election year (without Donald Trump), he would’ve probably won the GOP primaries too. He polls extremely well with young conservatives, a huge thing to watch in 2020. Marco Rubio’s career in politics is just beginning. Expect him to be back.
Kelly Ayotte (R-New Hampshire)
Before being elected a senator, Ayotte served as a prosecuting attorney taking on multiple murder cases and even argued a case against Planned Parenthood of Northern New England. During Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign, Sen. Ayotte was mentioned as a potential candidate for vice president. In just six years in the senate, Ayotte has sponsored over 217 bills. She serves on multiple committees including Armed Services, Homeland Security, and Governmental Affairs. In 2013, Newsmax named Kelly Ayotte as the most influential woman in the Republican party.
It’s evident that the Republican party is evolving. Once the party of old, white men, the future of the conservative movement is represented by diverse and energetic people of all genders. It’s undeniable that times are changing in America but it’s important that we don’t forget the values that contributed to our prosperity. Watch out for these names in the years to come.
