A panel of Republican governors assembled Tuesday in Florida to discuss the future of the GOP avoided the biggest question mark hanging over the party: Donald Trump.
The former president was barely mentioned by name during an hour-long discussion at the Republican Governors Association (RGA) in Orlando — taking place just hours before Trump is expected to make an announcement about his 2024 plans in the same state. But Republican leaders shared a vision for the party that diverges from the incendiary politics of the Trump era.
Gov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire said the party needs to be “positive” and “inspirational.” South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said Republicans too often relied on the “instant gratification feedback” that comes from saying “this crazy thing and it’s going to get me one big news flash and then not do anything that helps win an election.”
“We did a lot of talking,” Noem said. “We have to do more than just saying there’s a clear difference of choices.”
Gov. Bill of Tennessee said there is a “real hunger in this country for competent leadership that is driven by a passion to change people’s lives” and carried out through “grace and humility.”
“I believe our children learn a lot by what we say and what we do and they especially mimic and learn by how we treat other people and there’s not much inspiring about the way we treat people in politics,” Lee said, earning him applause.
Gov. Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, the chairman of the RGA, moderated and didn’t ask about Trump, instead steering the conversation toward policy topics where Republicans believe they’re winning. School choice, lower taxes and fostering business development were often discussed.
The panel participants, which also included Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, represented a cross-section of politically successful Republican governors from across the country who coasted to reelection last week.