The midterms look shaky right now, but all is not lost. Plus 2028 looks better for the presidency.
There are no solutions, only trade-offs.
Thomas Sowell, PhD
Like millions, I look at the near election cycles with trepidation. Quite frankly, at this moment President Donald Trump’s approval ratings are a drag on the GOP brand. While the Republican party hold on the Senate is fairly solid, over 30 GOP House members announced they are leaving. But I’m seeing things that are giving me hope.
First, many old RINOs are on their last legs. Mitch McConnell is finally leaving the Seante after forty-two years. Senator John Cornyn (RINO-TX) will likely be defeated in the primary runoff by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton is known as a fighter, having survived an illegitimate impeachment, and has warned doctors mutilating children to stop or face prosecution. A Senator Paxton will be a great addition to the upper chamber of the Congress.
Why do we need these RINOs out? They like being in Washington, but they don’t like to work. RINOs run swearing they will secure the border, get spending under control, tame the bureaucracy, etc. Then they cut deals with Democrats and against the American people every turn. We should see a more conservative GOP caucus, no matter who controls the Congress. More combat, less compromise, is what’s needed. America don’t need any more Bob Doles, Bob Michaels or John McCains.
I’ve said in past posts, recent elections have seen the fall of the House of Bush (2016), House of Cheney (2022), and the House of McCain. Also the House of Clinton and hopefully soon the House of Obama. Thank God.
Next, looking at the 2028 Republican presidential field, the group is strong and conservative. I would say the leading candidates are Vice President JD Vance, Governor Ron DeSantis, Senator Ted Cruz, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Also in the ring are Senators Rand Paul and Tim Scott, as well as former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. That is a strong team and while all are varying degrees of conservative, there are no moderates wanting to work across the aisle (e.g. McCain, Mitt Romney, Chris Christi, Linsey Graham).
On the other side, we see… failed two-time candidate Kamala Harris. Also governors Gavin “Gruesome” Newsom, Gretchen Whimer, Josh Shapiro and JB Pritzker. Don’t forget former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Senator Cory “Spartacus” Booker, and AOC.
Looking at this list, the presumed front runner has never won a single primary election in two cycles. Harris was nominated in a smoke filled back room, and her only answer to the time of day is “I was raised in a middle-class family…”
Governor Newsom is overseeing the destruction of our formerly greatest state, California, which under his watch is losing 2 taxpayers a minute (over 700 a day). Pritzker bought his office with the family fortune (Hyatt hotels and other equity) and is also administering the destruction of a former industrial powerhouse. The Land of Lincoln (Abe is turning in his grave) has lost over 32, 000 residents since 2015, and a congressional seat in 2020.
Josh Shapiro is a fairly moderate and successful governor in a critical swing state, but he will never be the nominee. The Democrats rampant anti-Semitism will insure it, as it kept him from the 2024 VP nomination. Governor Whimer has some legitimate strengths, getting elected in a state Trump carried in 2024. But it is too early in her career for a serios run at the presidency.
Booker and AOC. Enough said.
Finally, one thing giving me hope is Republicans, finally, are playing hard ball against the Democrats. After multiple states gerrymandered their congressional districts to insure they have almost no GOP representatives (Massachusetts, Maryland, Illinois), Republicans are fighting back. In 2025 the Texas legislature approved a new districting plan creating five more GOP leaning districts. Florida has just approved a plan that will increase their Republican districts by four. Louisiana will soon reorganize their congressional map, eliminating the “black district” that stretches from New Orleans to Shreveport.
The Congress is at last getting into the act. The Senate Democrats used the filibuster to try to starve the Department of Homeland Security. I have no doubt if they get both the presidency and congress in the future, they will try to eliminate DHS, they are needing “non-voting” illegal aliens. But the GOP, using budget reconciliation, funded DHS till the end of Trump’s term. Last year the GOP got ICE funded through 2029, so immigration enforcement continues till the end of the Trump presidency.
I don’t see that happening with Speaker John Boehner or Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Are we out of the woods yet? By no means. The GOP has an issue defending multiple open seats in the Congress. But on the positive side, they have gained some successes in the budget and redistricting. Donald Trump will not sit idly by this fall, he will be campaigning for candidates all over the country. The Democrats underestimate his ability to bring in votes at their peril.
While his numbers may be low right now, a success in Iran will change that quickly. Not to mention the Democrats seem to be overplaying their hand in 2028. A liberal akin to Harris or Newsome may win the nomination, but they will not win the presidency.
So yes, I have a bit of a warm and fuzzy feeling about the next two election cycles. Time will tell if it’s good analysis, or the scotch I just drank. ☺
Michael A. Thiac is a retired Army intelligence officer, with over 23 years experience, including serving in the Republic of Korea, Japan, and the Middle East. He is also a retired police patrol sergeant, with over 22 years’ service, and over ten year’s experience in field training of newly assigned officers. He has been published at The American Thinker, PoliceOne.com, and on his personal blog, A Cop’s Watch.
Opinions expressed are his alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of current or former employers.
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