The 2028 RNC primaries are shaping up to be a royal rumble

[FBaggins]

I know... I know... that assumes there's even going to be an election.

Setting that aside. Vance as VP will obviously assume that he has the inside track. But Rubio has much more experience as a candidate and Secretary of State is a legit post to run from. DeSantis might take that senate seat for himself so that he's still on the national stage in 2028 (he's term-limited for 2026). Now governor Noem gets a national role with the chance to appeal to the base. Will Ramaswamy get a seat at the cabinet table? Or maybe take Vance's senate seat in OH? Maybe Mike Lee gets AG and thinks that gives him a shot? Gov Burgum as Energy secretary?

[LisaL]

1. What do republicans need primaries for?

If Trump is still alive, he isn't going to go anywhere. And yea, I know, he had two terms. He obviously couldn't care less.

[Prairie Gates]

2. Ah, an optimist

"Setting that aside..." Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln...

When was the last time cabinet secretary was a route toward President? The only one I can think of is George HW Bush and he had to transition through VP first. Besides, once Trump gets done with these people, they will look far too servile to take the top slot. There's going to be years of asskissing around a table on CNN. It's not a good look if you want to be the boss.

Since you're fantasizing, you should be fantasizing about Don Jr. or Eric. Misunderstanding that Trump is indeed a kind of neo-monarchist is a bit embarrassing at this point.

[FBaggins]

5. I thought Hillary made a credible candidate from the SoS slot

Six presidents had previously been in that seat.

[Prairie Gates]

6. Hillary lost

For the record, and I assume this is why you didn't name them, the six who have served as Secretary of State were

Thomas Jefferson
James Madison
James Monroe
John Quincy Adams
Martin Van Buren (Shout out to the Van Buren Boys at Lorenzo's heyooo! Eight fingers, son.)
James Buchanan

I'll reiterate, with a qualifier that takes your evidence into account: Cabinet positions don't seem a good route to the modern Presidency. I'm sure you're more an expert than I am, but the only exception I can think of is George HW Bush, who served as Ambassador the the UN under Nixon, and subsequently ran a competitive primary against Reagan, and became his Vice President, and served in that role for eight years before being elected.

[FBaggins]

7. But not because she had been SoS

And while a cabinet position by itself hasn’t recently been much of an advantage - Senators and governors are frequent nominees… and adding cabinet positions on top of that can’t hurt.

Particularly if we’re talking about border or international relations posts when those are hot button issues.

[Prairie Gates]

8. Debateable - it wasn't an advantage either

I'm sorry, is the point of your post to promote one of these absolute trashbags?

"adding cabinet positions on top of that can’t hurt...particularly if we’re talking about border or international relations posts"

Can't hurt who? What?

[FBaggins]

9. Heavens no

I’m just saying it looks to be quite the circus after a couple cycles of effectively only Trump.

You’ve seen how they are clash with one another… imagine that while they’re all in the same administration trying to distinguish themselves for the primary voters

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. Already? NT

[Ontheboundry]

4. Vivek and vance

Are the two that scare me. Both are young, polished and smooth. Vivek is quick on his feet also

Desantia has zero personality and Rubio....well, he will give it a shot I guess

Vivek is the one to worry the most about cuz he treks towards the populist movement better than the others

[Fiendish Thingy]

10. I'm guessing the primaries will consist of a ring and ass kissing contest

Jockeying for Trump’s endorsement.

All the candidates will try to out-MAGA each other. I would be surprised if there were any non-MAGA (like Liz Cheney) candidates even running.

What will interesting is if, as expected, the economy tanks, and Trump’s approval tanks, how the candidates will spin that in the primaries and in the general.

Maybe they won’t need to, as things will be efficiently pre-arranged to produce the desired results.