July 19: Election 2024: RNC convention, J.D. Vance, and the GOP’s new(ish) conservatives

In which, I rather uncharacteristically focus more on domestic politics than international affairs because there’s actually a lot of (important) things to talk about.

Election 2024: RNC convention, J.D. Vance, and the GOP’s new(ish) conservatives

With the conclusion last night of the RNC convention in Milwaukee, the GOP has a presidential ticket. Donald J. Trump, you know. VP candidate Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio you may be less familiar with. 

With a strong message of unity, surging energy post-assassination attempt, and a Democratic Party in major disarray, the Trump campaign kicks off the formal presidential election campaign in a very strong position. And they know it.

Despite the message of unity, though, two of the major stories of the convention were Vance’s elevation to VP nominee, and the apparent shift his nomination and the GOP’s move away from pro-life positions signaled. Is this GOP still the GOP of Reagan, or is there a new, potentially more authoritarian conservatism rising on the coattails of Trumpian populism?

Lot’s of ink has, and will be, spilled trying to answer those questions. Certainly Vance’s very heterodox background and intellectual influences suggest a shift Additionally, the political realignment among voters that I’ve been talking about for years has clearly benefited the GOP in terms of broadening its tent, though social conservatives are certainly feeling displaced.

Bottom line, Election 2024 is about more than the Trump Redemption Tour, but about the future of both the GOP and the type of conservative politics it will represent. The definition of that emerging conservative ideology is still in flux, so don’t expect any definitive answers until post election.