The Republican Party: Transformed by the 2024 Primary Campaigns
The 2024 primary campaigns are reshaping the Republican Party, as it grapples with the enduring impact of Donald Trump's populism From differing stances on mass deportation to evolving views on Social Security, candidates like DeSantis reflect a changing landscape
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While the ultimate winner of the Republican presidential primary is still undetermined, the campaign has already influenced the direction of the party as it grapples with the legacy of former President Donald Trump's populism.
The leading GOP candidates have solidified their positions on key issues such as deportation of migrants, but there is a lack of consensus on other issues like reforming Social Security and Medicare. These contrasting policy stances were evident at the recent CNN primary debate in Iowa with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and at a Fox News town hall which was attended by Trump's absence.
In favor of mass deportation
The view held by the major GOP presidential candidates that millions ofundocumented immigrants currently in the US must be deported represents a striking shift for the party.
The recent increase in migrants and asylum-seekers crossing the US border has been a driving concern for Republicans focused on border security. Trump, whose initial presidential campaign revolved around promises to construct a border wall, has consistently shown approval for a mass-deportation initiative from the 1950s.
In November, CNN documented his intentions, if elected for a second term, to strengthen his strict immigration policies by establishing large camps to accommodate migrants awaiting deportation and enlisting federal and local law enforcement to aid in widespread arrests of undocumented immigrants throughout the nation.
Haley and DeSantis refrained from commenting on those ideas during Wednesday night's debate. However, they were questioned by debate moderator Jake Tapper about the over 10 million undocumented immigrants currently residing in the US.
DeSantis stated, "The number of people who will be granted amnesty when I am president is zero," in response to being asked if he would permit any of the 10 million to remain in the US.
"You have to deport them," said Haley. "And the reason you have to deport them is theyre cutting the line."
It wasnt always so â¦
Ignoring the logistical and financial difficulties of deporting over 10 million people, as well as Congress' inability to agree on the border issue, the reality is that all the major remaining Republican presidential candidates now support mass deportation. This marks a significant change for the party, as former President George W. Bush and the late Sen. John McCain both previously endorsed bipartisan immigration plans that included a pathway to citizenship for undocumented individuals in the early 2000s.
Mitt Romney, currently a senator from Utah, supported the idea of encouraging undocumented individuals to self-deport. "We're not going to round people up," Romney stated during a debate in 2012.
While details are scarce from current Republican candidates, they generally share the same stance on immigration.
A telling disagreement on Social Security
While they agree on deportations, the GOP candidates are split on Social Security and Medicare.
The programs that Americans contribute to during their careers are at risk of being unable to provide full benefits in the future. Current projections indicate that Social Security may not have sufficient funds to cover all benefits within the next 10 years unless Congress takes action.
Haley has been outspoken about the need to make difficult decisions regarding this issue. She suggests protecting current senior citizens receiving benefits from potential changes, and advocating for informing individuals in their 20s that the retirement age will likely need to be increased.
Trump has been publicly criticizing Haley for her intention to reform Social Security, with a new video release that made his argument. During the Fox town hall, Trump claimed that both Haley and DeSantis want to cut benefits, however, this is not entirely accurate. In reality, DeSantis has aligned with Trump's stance, and during CNN's debate, he appeared to take a more progressive stance by describing the programs as a form of social insurance rather than entitlements.
"Dear seniors, I want to reiterate the promise that has been made to you," he stated. "You have contributed to this. Every single paycheck throughout your entire life, money has been deducted, and it is essential that this promise is honored."
Haley and DeSantis answer questions during the debate.
Will Lanzoni/CNN
Its an evolution for DeSantis
As a member of Congress, DeSantis voted for controversial budget resolutions that would have raised the retirement age to 70, CNNs Andrew Kaczynski and Em Steck noted last year.
DeSantis pointed to recent data indicating a decrease in US life expectancy on Wednesday. "I would never consider raising the retirement age when life expectancy is decreasing," DeSantis stated. "That would negatively impact blue-collar workers," he continued. "You pay taxes your whole life, but if life expectancy is decreasing, you may not even receive many benefits."
Check out CNN's fact check of his statement regarding life expectancy, which is closely related to the high death toll during the Covid-19 pandemic. DeSantis criticized state governments for their handling of the crisis and also mentioned that his grandmother depended solely on Social Security and lived to be 91 years old.
The imbalance in the program is largely due to people living longer and receiving benefits for an extended period of time. The Tax Policy Center recently stated that the benefits paid to Social Security recipients in the future may surpass and potentially even double the taxes they have paid during their working years.
Haley emphasized the importance of honoring promises to seniors while also addressing the reality of the situation. She advocated for a higher retirement age for current workers in their 20s and restrictions on benefits for those who are wealthy. Despite the importance of these nuanced considerations, they are often overlooked in the criticism aimed at her for suggesting changes to the programs for future generations.
Social Security's financial situation has deteriorated in recent years, and Haley's stance on the need for reform seems outdated, reminiscent of past campaigns. During that time, DeSantis voted for budget resolutions to adjust the retirement age. Currently, he is aligning himself with Trump on this issue.
