GOP Moderates Are Learning the Wrong Lessons from 2024—and Risk Losing Everything in 2026
Joe Cunningham
This column really has two audiences. The first is moderate Republicans who are getting in the way of major fiscal reforms necessary to correct decades of financial irresponsibility. The second is Republican leadership who, in all honesty, are in a tough position trying to herd a bunch of unruly cats with personality disorders ranging from extreme anxiety to a desire to fight everything that moves.
Throughout this entire chaotic budget fight over the One Big Beautiful Bill, a dangerous delusion has begun creeping back into the Republican Party, especially among the moderate class and some in GOP leadership. It’s this belief they are getting once again that they won’t be able to win and stay in power if they don’t moderate on some of their positions.
Things like restructuring/reforming Medicaid, asserting fiscal responsibility, and pushing back hard against progressive social ideology.
Sure, they’ve talked a great game on immigration, but it’s been done through executive action. There has not been one serious attempt by the party to codify any immigration enforcement policies into law. There has not been any serious attempt to curtail the insane levels of government spending that have put us on a dangerous path.
What have moderate Republicans done? The “SALT Caucus” has demanded the federal government reward their states’ bad tax policies by reintroducing state and local tax deductions. Some, reportedly including President Donald Trump himself, have suggested tax hikes on the rich. More have wavered on ending the Green New Deal policies in the Inflation Reduction Act. They understand that Medicaid reform is necessary, but they are too uncomfortable with how it might impact their re-election bids.
more
https://redstate.com/joesquire/2025/05/17/gop-moderates-are-learning-the-wrong-lessons-from-2024and-risk-losing-everything-in-2026-n2189209
