Anti-Trump Movement Sees Brighter Horizons Despite Trump's Primary Wins

In the wake of Donald Trump's triumph over Nikki Haley in New Hampshire, anti-Trump Republicans surprisingly remain unfazed. Although Trump secured victories in the early nominating contests, those opposing him are optimistic about the prospects of defeating the former president in November.

Significant Voter Resistance to Trump

Polls and exit surveys from Iowa and New Hampshire indicate that substantial portions of the Republican electorate voted specifically against Trump and would not support him in the upcoming general election. Independents, who played a role in Trump's loss in the 2020 general election, contributed to record turnout in New Hampshire's GOP primary. Additionally, Trump did not make significant advances in highly educated areas, where he had a weak performance in 2016.

Clearing the Path to Stop Trump

According to Mike Madrid, a California GOP strategist and co-founder of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, "It was definitely not a good night for Donald Trump." He further emphasized that "By most metrics, the path to [stopping Trump] has become much clearer." Madrid stated, "The anti-Trump lane is discernible. It's palpable. It's big. It's something that we can work with in a real, meaningful way."

Mixed Results for Anti-Trump Movement

Although the results from Iowa and New Hampshire may seem discouraging for the anti-Trump movement at first glance, closer examination reveals some positive indicators. Even with a former president facing 91 criminal charges and juggling between the courtroom and the campaign trail, Trump managed to secure over 50 percent of the votes in both states. However, data from Iowa and New Hampshire show warning signs for Trump, particularly among independents and more moderate Republicans. In New Hampshire, 64 percent of undeclared voters sided with Haley, while a pre-caucus poll in Iowa revealed that 43 percent of Haley's supporters would back President Joe Biden over Trump.

Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

Despite Trump's lead in polls in Haley's home state of South Carolina and her absence from delegate competition in Nevada, the leaders of the anti-Trump movement believe that the focus should shift to defeating Trump in the general election. Charlie Sykes, a conservative Wisconsin political commentator, noted, "It's all doom and gloom in the primary, but this has been predictable for a long time now."

Encouraging Signs for Trump's Opponents

Exit polls revealed that 46 percent of GOP primary voters in New Hampshire would be dissatisfied if Trump became the GOP nominee, and 35 percent indicated that they would not vote for him in November. Additionally, significant percentages of voters in Iowa and New Hampshire expressed resistance to Trump, providing encouragement to the anti-Trump movement.

Future Perspectives

Even as some Never Trumpers are not ready to look ahead to the general election yet, others are already shifting their focus. While Haley plans to continue her campaign through Super Tuesday, some Never Trumpers are contemplating strategies to support down-ballot Republicans who they believe could suffer with Trump at the top of the ticket. Despite the challenges, the anti-Trump movement remains determined to push forward and is finding hope in the resistance to Trump shown by segments of the electorate.