Over half a dozen big-name Republicans remain on the sidelines mulling a presidential run as the 2024 race heats up.
Already, the contest is shaping up to be a crowded field. Many of the rumored candidates in waiting have hinted they will enter the race, while others have been hesitant to show their hands.
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Here is a look at the top Republicans still actively considering a run.
Ron DeSantis
The man everyone is watching, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) has consistently polled as the top rival to former President Donald Trump, though his standing in many polls has slipped in recent weeks.
DeSantis has indicated that he will make his 2024 decision sometime after the Florida legislature wraps up its business at the month’s end. In the interim, he has been swinging through early states and maintaining a brisk travel itinerary.
Four operatives told NBC News this week that DeSantis is planning to commence an exploratory committee in mid-May, followed by an announcement shortly thereafter. Sources also told Bloomberg that DeSantis was mulling the first two weeks of June as a launch date. He downplayed those reports.
“If there’s any announcements, those will come at the appropriate time. But if anyone’s telling you that somehow they know this or they know that, that’s just inaccurate because there’s not been any decisions made,” DeSantis said at a news conference last week.
Mike Pence
Trump’s former running mate has publicly admitted he is contemplating a run, praying over it with his wife. Like DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence has barnstormed through early states. He has also waded into hot-button topics of the day, holding true to his conservative principles on abortion and entitlements while occasionally bashing Trump.
Pence has indicated he plans to make his 2024 intentions known “well before late June.” He has generally polled around third place but still trails Trump and DeSantis by considerable margins.
Chris Sununu
Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH) appears to be itching for a run, making frequent TV appearances and taking shots at both Trump and DeSantis. Polls show him struggling to breach 1% nationally.
Similar to Pence, Sununu has expressed frustration with the populist insurgency in the GOP. But he’s also criticized the focus on restricting abortion, a polar opposite position from Pence.
Although he doesn’t appear to have maintained quite the same 2024 buzz-inducing busy travel itinerary across key states as others, including Pence and DeSantis, Sununu has attended key events such as the National Rifle Association’s Annual Leadership Forum. He has teased that a decision will come by the summer.
Chris Christie
Recently, former Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) began testing the waters with town halls and various events in the key state of New Hampshire. Christie foreshadowed that if he were to run, he would focus his efforts on attacking Trump, though he has also swiped at DeSantis.
Once considered a top-tier hopeful during the 2012 cycle, Christie is now hovering near the bottom of the pack in most polls. He told the Washington Examiner in March that a decision would likely come in the next “45 to 60 days.”
Tim Scott
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) embarked on a listening tour through critical states and launched a 2024 exploratory committee last month.
Scott also teased that a major announcement is coming on May 22. Throughout his travels across the country, Scott has sought to deliver an optimistic message. He is polling in sixth place among hypothetical 2024 Republicans in the latest RealClearPolitics aggregate.
Liz Cheney
Since breaking ranks with the GOP and backing the Jan. 6 committee, former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) has been treated as an outcast by MAGA Republicans. Although she hasn’t heavily courted 2024 speculation, some polls have found support for her among Republicans disenchanted with Trump.
She recently took a job as a professor at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics and has publicly cast doubt on whether she will remain a Republican.
Kristi Noem
Once loud chatter about Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) running in 2024 has quieted over recent months, but she appears to be keeping her options open. Polls show her trailing her top rivals, and the governor has not had a high-profile travel itinerary on the scale of others.
“‘I’m not convinced that I need to run for president,” Noem told CBS earlier this year.
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Glenn Youngkin
Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) ruled out the prospect of entering the 2024 arena “this year” on Monday. Many interpreted that as him passing on a run altogether, but his language seemingly leaves the doors open.
“I would refer you to the governor’s original comments and the question,” a spokersperson for Youngkin told the Washington Examiner when asked for clarification about his remarks.
The governor enjoyed some 2024 buzz but has not taken many of the steps others have to set the groundwork for a run.
Original Location: Here at the eight Republicans who could get into 2024 White House fight
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