Urbandale, Iowa — Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, whom is thought to be a likely presidential candidate, is suggesting the Republican Party needs to separate itself from former President Trump.
Hutchinson is among the many potential presidential candidates of 2024 to campaign with Iowa GOP candidates before the election, but he’s the first to return to the state after the November 8th election. Hutchinson says he watched Trump’s announcement the night of November 15th.
Many, but not all in the crowd at the Westside Conservative Club in Urbandale applauded those sentiments. Hutchinson says the fundamental lesson of this year’s election is GOP candidates have to appeal to independents to win in a General Election.
Hutchinson’s second term as governor of Arkansas ends in early January and he had planned to announce his decision about a presidential race in January, but Hutchinson says Trump’s jump into the 2024 race may prompt him and others to make their declarations soon. Hutchinson suggests voters are weary of the chaos Trump creates.
Former Governor Terry Branstad campaigned enthusiastically for Trump in 2016 and 2020, but Branstad says he’s not announcing his preferred candidate for 2024.
Branstad met with Hutchinson the morning of Wednesday, November 16th, and Branstad told reporters there are a lot of potential candidates who are likely to compete for the GOP’s next presidential nomination.
Branstad resigned as governor of Iowa to accept an appointment from Trump to be Ambassador to China.
