The GOP Loses its Grip as Trump Takes a Victory Lap

The Takeaway

Click on the audio player above to hear this interview.

The name Trump has been on the Las Vegas Strip for years. Last night, it was on the ballot, and today it is the top headline of virtually every news source in America.

The Nevada Caucuses delivered the billionaire businessman with his third straight victory. Florida Senator Marco Rubio came in second place with 23.9 percent of the vote, while Texas Senator Ted Cruz narrowly followed behind with 21.4 percent. 

Though Trump is dominating among voters, the GOP establishment has not yet rallied around him. Will he be able to secure the nomination without their support?

In nearly every nominating contest of the last decade, key interest groups and party insiders have rallied the establishment to support and ultimately select the to candidate general election, well before voters cast their ballots. Donald Trump and to some degree Bernie Sanders are anomalies in that theory.  

Hans Noel co-authored the book “The Party Decides,” which examines the evolution of presidential nominations. His most recent book, “Political Ideologies and Political Parties in America.” delves into liberal and conservative ideologies that form the basis of our modern political parties. 

What you’ll learn from this segment:

  • Why Trump has up-ended the theory that the party decides.
  • How interest groups and activists have shaped our modern political parties.
  • How shifting voter interests may play out at the nominating conventions.
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