User:BD2412/John Kasich 2024 presidential campaign

Kasich for America
Campaign2020 Republican primaries for the U.S. presidential election
CandidateJohn Kasich
Governor of Ohio
(2011–present)
AffiliationRepublican Party
Statuspending
HeadquartersCleveland, Ohio
Key peoplepending
ReceiptsUS$pending (pending)

As of January 2019, the 2020 presidential campaign of John Kasich, the 69th Governor of Ohio, is widely speculated to already be underway.[1] Speculation began during the 2016 primaries, when Kasich remained in the contest after it became clear that he had no path to the nomination.[2][3] Kasich began preparing for a 2020 run before the 2016 general election, with the expectation by supporters that Donald Trump would be defeated in his 2016 campaign for the presidency.[4]

2016 race edit

Following his withdrawal from the race, Kasich did not extend his support to Trump. In May and June 2016, Kasich said that Trump was a divisive figure rather than a "unifier," said that he had no plans to endorse Trump in the near future, and ruled out accepting the position of vice-presidential running mate under Trump.[5][6] Kasich stated that it was "hard to say" whether he would ever endorse Trump and added: "I can't go for dividing, name calling, or somebody that doesn't really represent conservative principles."[7] Kasich says that he has ruled out voting for Hillary Clinton, but lacks the enthusiasm to fully back Trump.[8]

In August 2016, Kasich repeated an earlier claim that the Trump campaign had offered him a powerful vice presidency, "putting him in charge of all domestic and foreign policy".[9] The Trump campaign denied that such an offer had been made.[9] Kasich also doubted whether Trump could win Ohio, a critical state in the election.[9] Later that month, Trump ally and conspiracy theorist Roger Stone claimed that Kasich would rig the Ohio vote to allow Hillary Clinton to win the state.[10] It was speculated that Kasich was looking towards a 2020 campaign,[11] with the expectation that Trump would be defeated in the 2016 campaign.[4] This speculation was strengthened by a report that Kasich had planned to give a speech to the American Enterprise Institute less than 48 hours after the election but cancelled it the morning after the election when it was clear that Trump won.[12]

Kasich received one electoral vote for the presidency from a faithless elector, Christopher Suprun of Texas, who had been pledged to vote for Trump. An elector in Colorado also attempted to vote for him, but their vote was discarded and they were replaced by an alternate elector who voted for Hillary Clinton, as pledged.[13]

2017-18 developments edit

Observers have noted that Kasich has repeatedly refused to rule out the possibility of being a candidate for the 2020 Republican Party presidential nomination, where he would presumably either be challenging Trump as the incumbent President, or vying in a field in which Trump had chosen not to run again, or was otherwise unable to run again.[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] It was noted in May 2017 that Kasich was "maintaining a political organization, planning on forming a team, and won't be waiting on the results of the midterm elections to make up his mind".[18] Politico similarly observed that Kasich "seems intent on maintaining a presence in the national arena — even when he knows that it looks like the early stages of a presidential bid".[17]

In February 2017, Kasich met with Trump at the White House,[22] a private meeting that followed a bitter feud.[23] Kasich indicated that he hoped for Trump's success, but would continue to be critical when he thought it was necessary.[23] The same month, Kasich's chief political advisors launched a political group, Two Paths America, in an effort to promote Kasich and his views and draw a contrast with Trump.[24] In April 2017, Kasich also released a book, Two Paths: America Divided or United, written with Daniel Paisner.[25][26] The creation of the group prompted speculation he could possibly run for president again,[24] but Kasich said that he had no plans to seek elected office again.[27]

On April 24, 2017, during a CNN town hall, Kasich, while stating that he was "very unlikely" to do so, reopened the possibility of running for president in 2020.[28][29] On August 20, however, he reiterated his previous statement on having no plans to run. Rather, he stated that he is "rooting for [Trump] to get it together."[30] On August 25, 2017, it was reported that Kasich was considering the possibility of a 2020 unity ticket with Kasich at the top and Democratic Colorado governor John Hickenlooper as vice president.[31]

In October 2017, New York reported that Kasich "retains a skeletal campaign staff, and they are helping him to think through his options: Should he run as a Republican in the primaries or as an Independent in the general election?"[32]

It was reported in January 2018 that Kasich had scheduled to return to New Hampshire, a critical state for the presidential primaries, in April 2018.[33] In February 2018, it was reported that Trump had launched a preemptive attack against Kasich, criticizing and making fun of Kasich several times at a Republican National Committee dinner in Washington, D.C.[34] In April 2018, Kasich indicated that it was unlikely that he would run as an independent politician.[35]

2019 developments edit

In February 2019, the Kasich for America political action committee sent a statement to supporters saying: "As we get closer to the 2020 elections, the buzz about who's running grows every day. Many have suggested Gov. Kasich should run, and he is keeping all of his options on the table".[36] In mid-March 2018, Kasich published an editorial calling on Republicans to reject Trump's declaration of a national emergency with respect to the proposed wall between the United States and Mexico, describing it as "President Trump's effort to circumvent Congress simply by invoking the magic word 'emergency'", and describing Trump as "playing to his base, focused on politics not policy".[37]

In August 2019, Kasich said that he saw no path to defeat Trump in the primaries at that point, although he noted that things could change.[38]

References edit

  1. ^ Libit, Daniel (August 9, 2016). "Yes, John Kasich is still running for president — in 2020".
  2. ^ Covington, Jr., Robert (April 14, 2016). "John Kasich's Master Plan". The Daily Banter.
  3. ^ Thompson, Chrissie (July 19, 2016). "In Cleveland, discomfort with idea of John Kasich 2020 run". USA Today Network.
  4. ^ a b Bunker, Theodore (July 20, 2016). "Kasich Looks to 2020 Assuming Trump Will Be a Loser". Newsmax.
  5. ^ Chrissie Thompson, John Kasich 'undecided' on backing Donald Trump, won't serve as VP, Cincinnati Enquirer (May 17, 2016).
  6. ^ Eliza Collins, Kasich still not endorsing Trump, won't be his VP, USA Today (June 9, 2016).
  7. ^ Kailani Koenig, John Kasich: 'Hard to Say' If I Will Ever Endorse Donald Trump, NBC News (June 9, 2016).
  8. ^ Healy, Patrick (August 8, 2016). "Tim Kaine Says Hillary Clinton Has Learned From Email 'Mistake'". The New York Times. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  9. ^ a b c Cadigan, Will (August 7, 2016). "Kasich: Trump Jr. called aide to float VP offer". CNN.
  10. ^ Berrian, Hank (August 23, 2016). "Trump Ally Roger Stone: Kasich Will Rig Ohio For Hillary". Daily Wire.
  11. ^ Libit, Daniel (August 9, 2016). "Yes, John Kasich is still running for president — in 2020". CNBC.
  12. ^ Thompson, Chrissie (November 9, 2016). "NeverTrumper John Kasich Cancels Thursday Speech". Cincinnati Enquirer.
  13. ^ Detrow, Scott. "Donald Trump Secures Electoral College Win, With Few Surprises". NPR. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
  14. ^ Blake, Aaron. "Analysis - It sure sounds like John Kasich might primary President Trump in 2020". Washington Post.
  15. ^ Sommer, Will (April 30, 2017). "Kasich finds it hard to rule out 2020".
  16. ^ "Kasich and Biden Yearn for 2020 - RealClearPolitics".
  17. ^ a b DeBenedetti, Gabriel (April 2, 2017). "Kasich moves fuel 2020 buzz". Politico.
  18. ^ a b Hansler, Jennifer (May 4, 2017). "John Kasich on a 2020 run: Never say never". CNN.
  19. ^ Concha, Joe (January 31, 2017). "Kasich's April book will draw contrasts with Trump". The Hill. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  20. ^ Benen, Steve (February 21, 2017). "As his Trump rebukes intensify, what is John Kasich up to?". MSNBC. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  21. ^ Savransky, Rebecca (April 25, 2017). "Kasich won't close door on 2020 presidential run". The Hill. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  22. ^ Henry J. Gomez, President Donald Trump will meet with Ohio Gov. John Kasich on Friday. But whose idea was it?, Cleveland.com (February 21, 2017).
  23. ^ a b Deirdre Shesgreen, After bitter feud, Kasich and Trump try to mend fences, USA Today (February 24, 2017).
  24. ^ a b Henry J. Gomez, John Kasich's allies launch political organization to promote his vision (and to counter Trump's), Cleveland.com (February 10, 2017).
  25. ^ Philip Rucker, Kasich to publish 'Two Paths,' a book offering a contrast to Trump's America, Washington Post (January 31, 2017).
  26. ^ Martha Wexler, Ohio Gov. John Kasich on America's Division and Rising Above 'Self-Absorption', NPR, Morning Edition (April 26, 2017).
  27. ^ Eli Watkins, John Kasich says he's not running for office again, CNN (March 26, 2017).
  28. ^ Kasich: Unlikely I'll run for president in 2020 (Video). United States: YouTube. April 24, 2017. Event occurs at 0:15. Very unlikely.
  29. ^ Kasich: Unlikely I'll run for president in 2020 (Video). United States: YouTube. April 24, 2017. Event occurs at 0:36. If I see something I need to do to help my country that I really believe I have to do, you know, then I would think I would probably do it.
  30. ^ Cheney, Kyle (August 20, 2017). "Kasich: No plans to challenge Trump in 2020". Politico. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
  31. ^ Preston, Mark (August 25, 2017). "Source: Kasich, Hickenlooper consider unity presidential ticket in 2020". CNN.
  32. ^ Miller, Lisa (October 29, 2017). "John Kasich's Campaign Against Trump Never Stopped. And It Won't Till 2020". New York.
  33. ^ Steinhauser, Paul (January 25, 2018). "Kasich return to N.H. in April fuels 2020 speculation". Concord Monitor.
  34. ^ Manchester, Julia (February 2, 2018). "Trump goes after Kasich at RNC dinner: report". The Hill.
  35. ^ Bash, Dana (April 4, 2018). "John Kasich to CNN: Independent presidential run 'unlikely'". CNN.
  36. ^ Axelrod, Tal (February 26, 2019). "Kasich fundraises off 2020 speculation". The Hill.
  37. ^ Kasich, John R. (March 12, 2019). "John Kasich: It's time for Republicans in Congress to put country over party". CNN.
  38. ^ Sullivan, Kate (August 27, 2019). "John Kasich says he doesn't see a path to defeat Trump 'right now'". CNN.