When Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose recently appeared on a local radio show, he faced tough questions about his past criticisms of former President Donald Trump. LaRose, a Republican Senate candidate, had to explain why he had positioned himself as “Never Trump” before the 2016 election and why he had referred to Trump’s social media attack on Black members of Congress as racist in 2019.
LaRose had his answers ready for Bob Frantz, a prominent right-wing voice in the state. He claimed that he had been deceived by the anti-Trump former governor, John Kasich. He alleged that a GOP primary rival had created a false narrative about him. And he vehemently denied ever accusing Trump of racism, offering a polished response that did not match the quote attributed to him by The Cincinnati Enquirer following an interview with the newspaper’s editorial board.
To further bolster his argument, LaRose mentioned that he had recently dined with Trump. He asserted, “My Trump credentials are rock-solid and golden.” He explained that while he doesn’t agree with Trump on everything, he is a staunch supporter.
LaRose is just one of many Republican Senate candidates who have struggled to reconcile their political identity with that of the former president. This dilemma is particularly visible in the upcoming 2024 Senate races, which will determine which party controls the Senate. Republicans need to flip two seats, and they are targeting Democratic incumbents in states that Trump won twice, such as Ohio, West Virginia, and Montana. Additionally, swing states like Michigan, Nevada, and Pennsylvania that supported President Joe Biden in 2020 are also competitive.
Some candidates, like LaRose and his primary rival Bernie Moreno, were on record criticizing Trump in 2016. Others, like Dave McCormick in Pennsylvania, expressed disapproval of Trump’s actions after the 2020 election. And there are still those who have not yet endorsed Trump for 2024, despite polls indicating that he is the frontrunner in the GOP.
It is important for these candidates to acknowledge their past criticisms and mistakes and present a case for why they now believe in Trump’s value. Jai Chabria, a GOP strategist and former top aide to John Kasich, points out that most people were skeptical of Trump in the early days of his campaign. Chabria believes that voters can understand and forgive if candidates are honest about their evolution.
According to an anonymous source close to Trump, the former president and his team have taken note of candidates like LaRose who have not fully defended Trump or embraced his claims about the 2020 election. This could be a significant factor in the upcoming election.
Trump has not yet made as strong of an impact on the 2024 Senate races as he did in 2022, where several of his preferred candidates won primaries but lost in the general election. However, he recently endorsed West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice over Rep. Alex Mooney in the state’s closely watched Senate race. Justice, who was elected as a Democrat in 2016 but switched parties and embraced Trump, has faced criticism from Mooney for not being sufficiently loyal to the former president.
In Montana, Rep. Matt Rosendale, who is considering a primary challenge against Tim Sheehy, suggests that not endorsing Trump is a strategic move to avoid negatively impacting other races. In Nevada, retired Army Capt. Sam Brown, who lost a Senate primary last year to a Trump-backed candidate, has also declined to endorse Trump. However, other primary rivals, Jeff Gunter and Jim Marchant, have emphasized their support for Trump.
In states like Michigan and Pennsylvania, candidates face scrutiny for their hesitation to endorse Trump. For example, former Rep. Mike Rogers in Michigan initially considered running against Trump in the presidential primary but has since praised him for certain actions. Likewise, Dave McCormick in Pennsylvania has faced criticism for comments he made about Trump in the past, resulting in the loss of Trump’s endorsement. However, McCormick highlights his agreement with Trump on policies in his recent book.
In order to navigate these challenges, Republican candidates must find a balance between acknowledging their past criticisms and demonstrating their support for Trump. The upcoming Senate races will serve as a test of how well they can achieve this delicate balance.
