A Repudiation of Free-Market Conservatism

“Economic populism has transmuted the Republican Party, and that new version of the GOP has just gone from one standard bearer to two,” Politico reports.

“Donald Trump’s choice of J.D. Vance as his running mate suggests he is leaning harder into the economic policy instincts that helped land him his first term in 2016 and that he no longer feels the need to placate the type of free-market conservatives who have dominated the party for decades.”

“The former president’s views on tariffs, spending and immigration were no doubt a key ingredient to his electoral success in 2016. But he chose Mike Pence as his vice president for that race — a candidate with more traditionally conservative free-market viewpoints.”

“Now, the center of gravity has shifted, and Republicans in Congress will feel the pull if Trump wins in November.”