Who will win the GOP nomination in 2020?

[Senator-elect Spark]

Following a devastating Trump loss, out of these potential candidates who is best positioned to win the nomination to challenge the deeply unpopular president Hillary Clinton?

-Marco Rubio
-Ted Cruz
-Tom Cotton
-Ben Sasse
-Cory Gardner
-Scott Walker

[Del Tachi]

Paul Ryan, Marco Rubio, Bill Haslam or Nikki Haley

[RINO Tom]

Paul Ryan, Marco Rubio, Bill Haslam or Nikki Haley

I would think those would all be acceptable to most in the party.  Haslam might be viewed as too moderate, but I hope by then Republicans will just want to win enough to nominate someone sane.

I can always dream of Sandoval in 2024!

[Mr. Morden]

Better question: Should Paul Ryan be considered the early favorite *if* he decided to run?  My guess is yes.  But I'm not sure that he's as likely to run as some of the others.  Cotton and Cruz, for example, have done more explicit signalling of interest in a '20 bid than Ryan has, for example.

[Senator-elect Spark]

Better question: Should Paul Ryan be considered the early favorite *if* he decided to run?  My guess is yes.  But I'm not sure that he's as likely to run as some of the others.  Cotton and Cruz, for example, have done more explicit signalling of interest in a '20 bid than Ryan has, for example.

He most likely would be. However, I believe he has already declined to run.

[Mr. Morden]

Better question: Should Paul Ryan be considered the early favorite *if* he decided to run?  My guess is yes.  But I'm not sure that he's as likely to run as some of the others.  Cotton and Cruz, for example, have done more explicit signalling of interest in a '20 bid than Ryan has, for example.

He most likely would be. However, I believe he has already declined to run.

What do you mean "He has already declined to run"?  He didn't run in 2016, but he hasn't ruled out running in 2020 or beyond.

[Senator-elect Spark]

Better question: Should Paul Ryan be considered the early favorite *if* he decided to run?  My guess is yes.  But I'm not sure that he's as likely to run as some of the others.  Cotton and Cruz, for example, have done more explicit signalling of interest in a '20 bid than Ryan has, for example.

He most likely would be. However, I believe he has already declined to run.

What do you mean "He has already declined to run"?  He didn't run in 2016, but he hasn't ruled out running in 2020 or beyond.

http://www.wndu.com/content/news/Paul-Ryan-If-Trump-asks-Ill-step-down-as-co-chair-378671951.html

[Kingpoleon]

Unless Ryan retires in 2018, I severely doubt he'd run in 2020. Retiring in 2018 allows him to be the frontrunner for VP in 2020 or run for President in 2024.

As for of those choices, Gardner could focus on a Iowa to Nevada or a New Hampshire to Nevada strategy.

Rubio could just try to win South Carolina. Sasse would do well in Iowa, but from there it would be hard to prove he wasn't a regional candidate.

I don't see a path of victory for Cruz, Walker, or Cotton if Rubio and Sasse run.

[Santander]

I think Lyin' Ted will get it.

[LLR]

Haley, Cruz, or Ryan.

[IceSpear]

Tom Cotton

[Senator-elect Spark]

Tom Cotton

[RFayette]

I think Lyin' Ted will get it.

  Let's hope not.  I actually want to win sometime.

[LLR]

LOL @ people thinking Tom Cotton will win. He'll get under 5%.

[Mr. Morden]

Better question: Should Paul Ryan be considered the early favorite *if* he decided to run?  My guess is yes.  But I'm not sure that he's as likely to run as some of the others.  Cotton and Cruz, for example, have done more explicit signalling of interest in a '20 bid than Ryan has, for example.

He most likely would be. However, I believe he has already declined to run.

What do you mean "He has already declined to run"?  He didn't run in 2016, but he hasn't ruled out running in 2020 or beyond.

http://www.wndu.com/content/news/Paul-Ryan-If-Trump-asks-Ill-step-down-as-co-chair-378671951.html

That's a non-denial denial.  Here's what Ryan said just last week:

http://www.businessinsider.co.id/paul-ryan-running-president-2020-2016-6/#.V23VUbRrWS0

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So he's explicitly asked if he's going to run for president one day, and he says "I don't know".  And then talks about not having run yet because of the "phase of life" he's in...a clear signal that we shouldn't take the fact that he hasn't run for prez before as a sign that he's not interested in doing so at some point in the future.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Cruz is finished.  His campaign ended badly, and it ended in a way in which his enemies will turn on him.  If Cruz lost a primary in 2018 for reelection I wouldn't be shocked.

I don't see any of the losers this year ever being viable again, with the possible exception of Rubio, and he won't run in 2020. 

I would not be surprised to see Sen. Pat Toomey as the GOP nominee for President in 2020.  He can beat Democrats on their turf, and he's the kind of Republican that could build a new majority.  He's gotta win this year, and I think he will.

[pppolitics]

I think Lyin' Ted will get it.

[President Johnson]

PRESIDENT TRUMP.

If Big Don somehow loses, it'll be Rafael alias Lyin' Ted. And he will lose against Hilldog.

[ShadowRocket]

Cruz or, if he wins reelection, Rubio are probably the likeliest. I'm probably going to get flamed for this, but I could see Walker maybe being a contender again if he bones up and actually takes firm positions on issues.

Cotton strikes me as just hype and nothing more and I think Sasse has probably alienated the base too much with his anti-Trump stance. I could see Gardner being a dark horse but I'm not sure how interested in the job he is.

[hopper]

Cruz or, if he wins reelection, Rubio are probably the likeliest. I'm probably going to get flamed for this, but I could see Walker maybe being a contender again if he bones up and actually takes firm positions on issues.

Cotton strikes me as just hype and nothing more and I think Sasse has probably alienated the base too much with his anti-Trump stance. I could see Gardner being a dark horse but I'm not sure how interested in the job he is.

I think Gardner will be running for "Governor of Colorado" one day though.

[LLR]

Cruz or, if he wins reelection, Rubio are probably the likeliest. I'm probably going to get flamed for this, but I could see Walker maybe being a contender again if he bones up and actually takes firm positions on issues.

Cotton strikes me as just hype and nothing more and I think Sasse has probably alienated the base too much with his anti-Trump stance. I could see Gardner being a dark horse but I'm not sure how interested in the job he is.

I think Gardner will be running for "Governor of Colorado" one day though.

Why would he lose his job in the Senate to run for Governor? Makes no sense...

[President Johnson]

A moderate choice could be Sandoval. Maybe Sandoval/Cotton would make a winning team.

[Rules for me, but not for thee]

With a resurgent, independent UK and the support of Nigel Farage: Rand Paul.

Really, this is hard to call when we don't even know what's going to really happen at next month's RNC.

[Medal506]

Ted Cruz more than likely win the nomination in 2020

[Ronnie]

I think the GOP will need an Obama of their own to win in 2020.  Not only someone to unite all wings of the party, but who also can win over a very high number of minorities.

Two potential candidates who may fit that criteria are Brian Sandoval and Susana Martinez.  But I'm not sure they'll be able to win over the base in the primary, if they even decide to run.