Hypothetical Clinton victory over Rubio

[TarHeelDem]

This was inspired by something that I believe Mr. Morden posted over in the trends forum. What if Rubio loses to Clinton next November? Who becomes the GOP flagbearer in 2020? No one feels right to me except Cruz, and he would be quite the hopeless case. Ryan will have suffered through several years of speakership. What's the GOP's play in 2020?

I'm curious about this because I think it's fairly likely it could happen.

[MisSkeptic]

This is a tough question to answer. First, I hope next election there's not too many candidates for the Republican nomination. I know political parties cannot force someone not to run, but seeing how it's like the Republicans are all fighting to get into a very small clown car, I think we could do with a smaller pool of more serious candidates.

If Rubio eventually became the nominee next year, but lost to Clinton. Then expect someone like Cruz to step up and possibly become the nominee. Cruz is someone who can appeal to the strong conservative base of the Republican party.

I can imagine Rand Paul and Scott Walker running again in future elections. But the likes of Jeb Bush, Donald Trump, Carson, and countless others would be out.

[Donald Trump 2016 !]

Tom Cotton could be a dark horse for 2020.

[Blair]

I remember when Rubio was seen as as tea party prince

[ProgressiveCanadian]

His first challenge is the primary's which i doubt he is going to win.

[Lyin' Steve]

I remember when Rubio was seen as as tea party prince

Yeah take Cruz, Carson, and Trump out of the race and Rubio is the most conservative guy in the field.

[Gog]

Ted Cruz certainly.

I remember when Rubio was seen as as tea party prince

He is tea party, his moderate ness is a complete myth.

[King of the Uzbeks]

I remember when Rubio was seen as as tea party prince

I remember when he was a Moderate Prince.

[bobloblaw]

This was inspired by something that I believe Mr. Morden posted over in the trends forum. What if Rubio loses to Clinton next November? Who becomes the GOP flagbearer in 2020? No one feels right to me except Cruz, and he would be quite the hopeless case. Ryan will have suffered through several years of speakership. What's the GOP's play in 2020?

I'm curious about this because I think it's fairly likely it could happen.

If Hillary beats Rubio it will be a massive slap to establishment GOPers who think the party needs to pander to hispanics

[Maxwell]

I remember when Rubio was seen as as tea party prince

I remember when he was a Moderate Prince.

There's nothing moderate about Marco Rubio. He has a staunchly conservative record.

[President Johnson]

Paul Ryan, Tom Cotton, Jeff Flake or Joni Ernst. Maybe Bruce Rauner or Dough Ducey. Or Ben Carson will have a second try.

[Rockefeller GOP]

This was inspired by something that I believe Mr. Morden posted over in the trends forum. What if Rubio loses to Clinton next November? Who becomes the GOP flagbearer in 2020? No one feels right to me except Cruz, and he would be quite the hopeless case. Ryan will have suffered through several years of speakership. What's the GOP's play in 2020?

I'm curious about this because I think it's fairly likely it could happen.

If Hillary beats Rubio it will be a massive slap to establishment GOPers who think the party needs to pander to hispanics

No one wants to "pander" to Hispanics; we just want to stop pandering to people like you.

[Suburbia]

Rubio wins Colorado, New Hampshire, and maybe Virginia.

[Mr. Smith]

Midterms go really conservative, an even worse Tea Party wave takes hold, and Hillary loses 2020.

[Kingpoleon]

270-280's victory for Hillary, followed by a one-two hit: a slump hits mid-2017 but starts rolling up in December of 2018. However, by October 2019, the slump was back for one month before turning into a full-blown recession. It slows down very slightly in November of 2020, too late to be reported, but Hillary loses 2020 to Sen. John Kasich/Gov. Kim Guadagno.

2020:

356 - 182

[Coolface Sock #42069]

Here is a partial list of possible candidates if that happens:

Tim Scott
Bruce Rauner (if he gets re-elected)
Larry Hogan (if he gets re-elected)
Charlie Baker
Joni Ernst
Tom Cotton
Rob Portman
Thom Tillis
Joe Heck (if he wins in Nevada next year)
Pat Toomey (again, if re-elected)
Ted Cruz
Rick Snyder
Scott Walker
Greg Abbott
David Perdue

The 2016 field consists mostly of politicians first elected in the 2010 wave. A 2020 field would be chiefly made up of people from the 2014 wave who are considered too inexperienced to run in 2016, and I believe Tim Scott would be the favorite for the nomination.

I think most of the other 2016 candidates will be considered too old by 2020.

[bobloblaw]

This was inspired by something that I believe Mr. Morden posted over in the trends forum. What if Rubio loses to Clinton next November? Who becomes the GOP flagbearer in 2020? No one feels right to me except Cruz, and he would be quite the hopeless case. Ryan will have suffered through several years of speakership. What's the GOP's play in 2020?

I'm curious about this because I think it's fairly likely it could happen.

If Hillary beats Rubio it will be a massive slap to establishment GOPers who think the party needs to pander to hispanics

No one wants to "pander" to Hispanics; we just want to stop pandering to people like you.

There;s about 1000x more of me than there is of you.

[Sumner 1868]

This was inspired by something that I believe Mr. Morden posted over in the trends forum. What if Rubio loses to Clinton next November? Who becomes the GOP flagbearer in 2020? No one feels right to me except Cruz, and he would be quite the hopeless case. Ryan will have suffered through several years of speakership. What's the GOP's play in 2020?

I'm curious about this because I think it's fairly likely it could happen.

If Hillary beats Rubio it will be a massive slap to establishment GOPers who think the party needs to pander to hispanics

No one wants to "pander" to Hispanics; we just want to stop pandering to people like you.

There;s about 1000x more of me than there is of you.

[Figueira]

Tom Cotton could be a dark horse for 2020.

Is he really a "dark horse" if we're already talking about him this early?

[Rockefeller GOP]

This was inspired by something that I believe Mr. Morden posted over in the trends forum. What if Rubio loses to Clinton next November? Who becomes the GOP flagbearer in 2020? No one feels right to me except Cruz, and he would be quite the hopeless case. Ryan will have suffered through several years of speakership. What's the GOP's play in 2020?

I'm curious about this because I think it's fairly likely it could happen.

If Hillary beats Rubio it will be a massive slap to establishment GOPers who think the party needs to pander to hispanics

No one wants to "pander" to Hispanics; we just want to stop pandering to people like you.

There;s about 1000x more of me than there is of you.

What?  Racist populists?  I don't care.  I'd loudly applaud telling them to get lost.  Hopefully always electing the establishment candidate will send the message that your vehicle lies elsewhere.

[Horsemask]

Here is a partial list of possible candidates if that happens:

Tim Scott
Bruce Rauner (if he gets re-elected)
Larry Hogan (if he gets re-elected)
Charlie Baker
Joni Ernst
Tom Cotton
Rob Portman
Thom Tillis
Joe Heck (if he wins in Nevada next year)
Pat Toomey (again, if re-elected)
Ted Cruz
Rick Snyder
Scott Walker
Greg Abbott
David Perdue

The 2016 field consists mostly of politicians first elected in the 2010 wave. A 2020 field would be chiefly made up of people from the 2014 wave who are considered too inexperienced to run in 2016, and I believe Tim Scott would be the favorite for the nomination.

I think most of the other 2016 candidates will be considered too old by 2020.

Interesting list. I agree about Scott to a point, I think he could be a guy that can rally the conservative base around him and be powerful in the primaries.

[bobloblaw]

Midterms go really conservative, an even worse Tea Party wave takes hold, and Hillary loses 2020.

that is likely