President Donald Trump is expected to start off the 2024 Republican presidential primary race in the strongest possible position. Trump has consistently topped polls of potential primary challengers since he departed from office in 2021, well outpacing potential rivals like former Vice President Mike Pence and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. His broad base of support in the GOP base—which made him a formidable and often dominant force in the Republican primary in 2016 and 2020—is expected to remain intact. And even if Trump isn’t the eventual nominee, his presence in the race is sure to shape it, particularly on issues like immigration, climate change, and public health measures.
