In the aftermath of Glenn Youngkin’s upset victory in the Virginia governor’s race, Republicans have been scrambling to find other candidates in the image of the outsider businessman who was able to keep some distance from former President Trump. As one Youngkin adviser told National Journal, the key to swing-state success is finding a Republican candidate who can check just enough of the necessary boxes to satisfy Trump supporters while also showcasing the promise of electability in a general election. Having millions in personal funds to spend on the campaign doesn’t hurt, either. …
Despite Youngkin’s success, Republicans aren’t rushing to the corporate boardroom to recruit candidates. Blame the party’s current populist orientation and its instinctive mistrust of elites of all types. A recent Gallup poll found that only 18 percent of Americans trust big business and just 33 percent trust banks, with GOP voters showing just as much skepticism towards the business elite as their Democratic counterparts. CONTINUED
Josh Kraushaar, National Journal
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