Republican Party (United States)

=== 21st century ===
==== George W. Bush ====
{{Main|Presidency of George W. Bush}}
[[File:George-W-Bush.jpeg|thumb|upright|[[George W. Bush]], the 43rd president (2001–2009) and son of George H. W. Bush]]
Republican [[George W. Bush]] won [[2000 United States presidential election|the 2000]] and [[2004 United States presidential election|2004 presidential elections]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://prospect.org/api/content/6eed4c7a-00cb-50b3-b624-80f59403addb/|title=Movement Interruptus|first=John|last=Judis|date=December 20, 2004|website=The American Prospect|access-date=December 8, 2019|archive-date=February 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222013505/https://prospect.org/features/movement-interruptus/|url-status=live}}</ref> He campaigned as a "[[compassionate conservative]]" in 2000, wanting to better appeal to immigrants and minority voters.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/147694/compassionate-conservatism-wont-back-anytime-soon|title='Compassionate Conservatism' Won't Be Back Anytime Soon|first=Graham|last=Vyse|magazine=New Republic|date=March 30, 2018|access-date=June 15, 2020|archive-date=January 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116021544/https://newrepublic.com/article/147694/compassionate-conservatism-wont-back-anytime-soon|url-status=live}}</ref> The goal was to prioritize drug rehabilitation programs and aid for prisoner reentry into society, a move intended to capitalize on President Clinton's tougher crime initiatives such as his administration's [[Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act|1994 crime bill]]. The platform failed to gain much traction among members of the party during his presidency.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/06/08/last-stand-law-and-order-republicans-306333|title=Is This the Last Stand of the 'Law and Order' Republicans?|first=Tim|last=Alberta|website=[[Politico]]|date=June 8, 2020|access-date=June 13, 2020|archive-date=February 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212073318/https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/06/08/last-stand-law-and-order-republicans-306333|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Republican Party remained fairly cohesive for much of the 2000s, as both strong [[economic libertarians]] and [[social conservatives]] opposed the Democrats, whom they saw as the party of bloated, secular, and liberal government.<ref name="Wooldridge">Wooldridge, Adrian and John Micklethwait. ''The Right Nation'' (2004).</ref> This period saw the rise of "pro-government conservatives"—a core part of the Bush's base—a considerable group of the Republicans who advocated for increased government spending and greater regulations covering both the economy and people's personal lives, as well as for an activist and interventionist foreign policy.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/how-bush-destroyed-the-republican-party-162234/|title=How Bush Destroyed the Republican Party|first=Sean|last=Wilentz|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=September 4, 2008|access-date=February 15, 2021|archive-date=November 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101053122/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/how-bush-destroyed-the-republican-party-162234/|url-status=live}}</ref> Survey groups such as the [[Pew Research Center]] found that social conservatives and free market advocates remained the other two main groups within the party's coalition of support, with all three being roughly equal in number.<ref>{{cite book|title=In Search of Progressive America|page=97|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press|year=2013|isbn=978-0812209099|editor-first=Michael|editor-last=Kazin}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people-press.org/2005/05/10/profiles-of-the-typology-groups/|title=Profiles of the Typology Groups |website=People-press.org|access-date=December 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111215859/http://www.people-press.org/2005/05/10/profiles-of-the-typology-groups/|archive-date=January 11, 2017|url-status=live|date=May 10, 2005}}</ref> However, [[Libertarian Republican|libertarians]] and [[Libertarian conservatism|libertarian-leaning conservatives]] increasingly found fault with what they saw as Republicans' restricting of vital [[Civil liberties in the United States|civil liberties]] while [[corporate welfare]] and [[National debt of the United States|the national debt]] hiked considerably under Bush's tenure.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/righteous-anger-conservative-case-against-george-w-bush|title=Righteous Anger: The Conservative Case Against George W. Bush|publisher=[[The American Conservative]] ([[Cato Institute]] Re-printing)|date=December 11, 2003|access-date=May 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705025111/http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/righteous-anger-conservative-case-against-george-w-bush|archive-date=July 5, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In contrast, some social conservatives expressed dissatisfaction with the party's support for economic policies that conflicted with their moral values.<ref name="scare">[http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/12/huckabees_rebellion.html "How Huckabee Scares the GOP"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918153203/http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/12/huckabees_rebellion.html |date=September 18, 2008 }}. By [[E. J. Dionne]]. [[Real Clear Politics]]. Published December 21, 2007. Retrieved August 22, 2008.</ref>

The Republican Party lost its Senate majority in 2001 when the Senate became split evenly; nevertheless, the Republicans maintained control of the Senate due to the tie-breaking vote of Bush's vice president, [[Dick Cheney]]. Democrats gained control of the Senate on June 6, 2001, when [[Vermont]] Republican senator [[Jim Jeffords]] switched his party affiliation to Democrat. The Republicans regained the Senate majority in [[2002 United States Senate elections|the 2002 elections]], helped by Bush's surge in popularity following the [[September 11 attacks]], and Republican majorities in the House and Senate were held until the Democrats regained control of both chambers in [[2006 United States elections|the 2006 elections]], largely due to increasing opposition to the [[Iraq War]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/policy/senate-majorities-change-faster-than-the-rules|title=Today's Senate Roadblock Is Tomorrow's Safeguard|first1=Jason|last1=Dick|date=January 19, 2016|newspaper=Roll Call|access-date=December 8, 2019|archive-date=December 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210090543/https://www.rollcall.com/news/policy/senate-majorities-change-faster-than-the-rules|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/opinion/house-republicans-came-back-from-being-written-off-before-they-can-again|title=House Republicans came back from being written off before. They can again|first1=David|last1=Winston|date=January 4, 2019|newspaper=Roll Call|access-date=December 8, 2019|archive-date=December 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208185731/https://www.rollcall.com/news/opinion/house-republicans-came-back-from-being-written-off-before-they-can-again|url-status=live}}</ref>

In [[2008 United States presidential election|the 2008 presidential election]], Arizona Republican senator [[John McCain]] was defeated by Illinois Democratic senator [[Barack Obama]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny-ent-sarah-palin-john-mccain-funeral-20180829-story.html|title=Sarah Palin was not invited to John McCain's funeral|first=Brian|last=Niemietz|website=[[New York Daily News]]|date=August 29, 2018|access-date=December 8, 2019|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109025023/https://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny-ent-sarah-palin-john-mccain-funeral-20180829-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Tea Party movement ====
{{Main|Tea Party movement}}
The Republicans experienced electoral success in [[2010 United States elections|the 2010 elections]]. The 2010 elections coincided with the ascendancy of the [[Tea Party movement]],<ref>{{Cite magazine|url = https://newrepublic.com/article/78903/how-the-republicans-did-it|title = How the Republicans Did It|magazine = The New Republic|date = November 3, 2010|last1 = Kilgore|first1 = Ed|access-date = October 13, 2019|archive-date = December 20, 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201220101608/https://newrepublic.com/article/78903/how-the-republicans-did-it|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/nov/03/us-midterm-election-results-tea-party|title = US midterm election results herald new political era as Republicans take House|newspaper = The Guardian|date = November 3, 2010|access-date = October 13, 2019|archive-date = December 14, 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101214214006/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/03/us-midterm-election-results-tea-party|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-11317202|title = What exactly is the Tea Party?|work = BBC News|date = September 16, 2010|last1 = Connolly|first1 = Katie|access-date = October 13, 2019|archive-date = January 27, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210127092329/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-11317202|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.npr.org/2012/02/12/146780150/strong-in-2010-where-is-the-tea-party-now|title = Strong in 2010, Where is the Tea Party Now?|newspaper = NPR.org|access-date = October 13, 2019|archive-date = August 6, 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200806223354/https://www.npr.org/2012/02/12/146780150/strong-in-2010-where-is-the-tea-party-now|url-status = live}}</ref> an [[anti-Obama protest]] movement of [[fiscal conservatives]].<ref name="Blum-2020">{{Cite book|last=Blum|first=Rachel M.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1-r5DwAAQBAJ|title=How the Tea Party Captured the GOP: Insurgent Factions in American Politics|date=2020|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=978-0226687520|access-date=May 21, 2021|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215023725/https://books.google.com/books?id=1-r5DwAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> Members of the movement called for lower [[Taxation in the United States|taxes]], and for a reduction of the national debt and [[federal budget deficit]] through decreased [[United States federal budget|government spending]].<ref name="Gallup">[https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/165469-gallup-tea-partys-top-concerns-are-debt-size-of-government/ Gallup: Tea Party's top concerns are debt, size of government]  ''The Hill'', July 5, 2010</ref><ref name="thefiscaltimes.com">Somashekhar, Sandhya (September 12, 2010). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/12/AR2010091201425.html Tea Party DC March: "Tea party activists march on Capitol Hill"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221214172734/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/12/AR2010091201425.html |date=December 14, 2022 }}. ''[[The Washington Post]]''. Retrieved November 5, 2011.</ref> The Tea Party movement was also described as a popular constitutional movement<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Somin|first=Ilya|date=May 26, 2011|title=The Tea Party Movement and Popular Constitutionalism|location=Rochester, NY|ssrn=1853645|journal=Northwestern University Law Review Colloquy}}</ref> composed of a mixture of [[Libertarianism in the United States|libertarian]],<ref name="libertarian2">{{cite news |last=Ekins |first=Emily |date=September 26, 2011 |title=Is Half the Tea Party Libertarian? |newspaper=[[Reason (magazine)|Reason]] |url=http://reason.com/poll/2011/09/26/is-half-the-tea-part-libertart |url-status=live |access-date=July 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511064727/http://reason.com/poll/2011/09/26/is-half-the-tea-part-libertart |archive-date=May 11, 2012}}{{Cite journal |last1=Kirby |first1=David |last2=Ekins |first2=Emily McClintock |date=August 6, 2012 |title=Libertarian Roots of the Tea Party |url=http://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/libertarian-roots-tea-party?mc_cid=6b9d637298&mc_eid=a1708a475b |url-status=live |journal=Policy Analysis|publisher=[[Cato Institute]]|issue=705 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204005725/https://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/libertarian-roots-tea-party?mc_cid=6b9d637298&mc_eid=a1708a475b |archive-date=December 4, 2018 |access-date=June 9, 2019}}</ref> [[Right-wing populism|right-wing populist]],<ref name="populist2">{{cite news |last=Halloran |first=Liz |date=February 5, 2010 |title=What's Behind The New Populism? |publisher=[[NPR]]|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123137382 |url-status=live |access-date=June 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729230703/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123137382 |archive-date=July 29, 2018}}{{cite news |last=Barstow |first=David |date=February 16, 2010 |title=Tea Party Lights Fuse for Rebellion on Right |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/16/us/politics/16teaparty.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302180744/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/16/us/politics/16teaparty.html |archive-date=March 2, 2017}}{{cite news |last=Fineman |first=Howard |date=April 6, 2010 |title=Party Time |work=[[Newsweek]]|url=http://www.newsweek.com/2010/04/05/party-time.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713102631/http://www.newsweek.com/2010/04/05/party-time.html |archive-date=July 13, 2011}}</ref> and conservative activism.<ref name="Conservatism">{{cite news |first=Pauline |last=Arrillaga |date=April 14, 2014 |title=Tea Party 2012: A Look At The Conservative Movement's Last Three Years |newspaper=[[HuffPost]] |url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/14/tea-party-2012_n_1425957.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417025313/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/14/tea-party-2012_n_1425957.html |archive-date=April 17, 2012}}{{cite news |first=Michelle |last=Boorstein |date=October 5, 2010 |title=Tea party, religious right often overlap, poll shows |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/05/AR2010100501491.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407201008/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/05/AR2010100501491.html |archive-date=April 7, 2019}}{{cite news |first1=Peter |last1=Wallsten |first2=Danny |last2=Yadron |date=September 29, 2010 |title=Tea-Party Movement Gathers Strength |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703882404575520252928390046 |url-status=live |access-date=June 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913085143/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703882404575520252928390046 |archive-date=September 13, 2018}}</ref>

The Tea Party movement's electoral success began with [[Scott Brown (politician)|Scott Brown]]'s upset win in the [[2010 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts|January Senate special election in Massachusetts]]; the seat had been held for decades by Democrat [[Ted Kennedy]].<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2010/0119/Scott-Brown-the-tea-party-s-first-electoral-victory|title=Scott Brown: the tea party's first electoral victory|date=January 19, 2010|journal=Christian Science Monitor|access-date=December 8, 2019|archive-date=February 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214004238/https://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2010/0119/Scott-Brown-the-tea-party-s-first-electoral-victory|url-status=live}}</ref> In November, Republicans [[2010 United States House of Representatives elections|recaptured control of the House]], [[2010 United States Senate elections|increased their number of seats in the Senate]], and [[2010 United States gubernatorial elections|gained a majority of governorships]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/republicans-historic-win-state-legislatures-vote-2010-election/story?id=12049040#.T4eD_NnhdeM|title=Will Redistricting Be a Bloodbath for Democrats?|publisher=[[ABC News]]|access-date=April 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412053633/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/republicans-historic-win-state-legislatures-vote-2010-election/story?id=12049040#.T4eD_NnhdeM|archive-date=April 12, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The Tea Party would go on to strongly influence the Republican Party, in part due to the replacement of establishment Republicans with Tea Party-style Republicans.<ref name="Blum-2020" />

When Obama [[2012 United States presidential election|was re-elected president in 2012]], defeating Republican [[Mitt Romney]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2013-jan-04-la-pn-obama-biden-officially-win-second-term-20130104-story.html|title=It's official: Obama, Biden win second term|date=January 4, 2013|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=December 8, 2019|archive-date=January 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103082641/https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2013-jan-04-la-pn-obama-biden-officially-win-second-term-20130104-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> the Republican Party [[2012 United States House of Representatives elections|lost seven seats in the House]], but still retained control of that chamber.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.quorum.us/data-driven-insights/under-obama-democrats-suffer-largest-loss-in-power-since-eisenhower/291/|title=Under Obama, Democrats suffer largest loss in power since Eisenhower|website=Quorum|access-date=December 8, 2019|archive-date=May 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526122132/https://www.quorum.us/data-driven-insights/under-obama-democrats-suffer-largest-loss-in-power-since-eisenhower/291/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Republicans were [[2012 United States Senate elections|unable to gain control of the Senate]], continuing their minority status with a net loss of two seats.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/07/senate-results-2012_n_2039118.html|title=Democrats Retain Senate Control On Election Night|date=November 7, 2012|website=[[HuffPost]]|access-date=December 8, 2019|archive-date=January 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108015333/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/07/senate-results-2012_n_2039118.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the aftermath of the loss, some prominent Republicans spoke out against their own party.<ref>[http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/olympia-snowe-bob-dole-91930.html "Olympia Snowe: Bob Dole is right about GOP" – Kevin Robillard] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605115245/http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/olympia-snowe-bob-dole-91930.html |date=June 5, 2013 }}. Politico.Com (May 29, 2013). Retrieved on August 17, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-live/2013/01/powell-gop-has-a-dark-vein-of-intolerance-154019.html Powell: GOP has 'a dark vein of intolerance'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520213100/http://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-live/2013/01/powell-gop-has-a-dark-vein-of-intolerance-154019.html |date=May 20, 2013 }}. Politico.Com. Retrieved on August 17, 2013.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://images.skem1.com/client_id_32089/Grand_Old_Party_for_a_Brand_New_Generation.pdf|title=Grand Old Party for a Brand New Generation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610132357/http://images.skem1.com/client_id_32089/Grand_Old_Party_for_a_Brand_New_Generation.pdf|archive-date=June 10, 2013|date=June 10, 2013}}</ref> A 2012 election post-mortem by the Republican Party concluded that the party needed to do more on the national level to attract votes from minorities and young voters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/03/what-you-need-to-read-in-the-rnc-election-autopsy-report/274112/|title=What You Need to Read in the RNC Election-Autopsy Report|last=Franke-Ruta|first=Garance|date=March 18, 2013|website=[[The Atlantic]]|access-date=July 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707101956/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/03/what-you-need-to-read-in-the-rnc-election-autopsy-report/274112/|archive-date=July 7, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2013, Republican National Committee chairman [[Reince Priebus]] issued a report on the party's electoral failures in 2012, calling on Republicans to reinvent themselves and officially endorse immigration reform. He proposed 219 reforms, including a $10&nbsp;million marketing campaign to reach women, minorities, and gay people; the setting of a shorter, more controlled primary season; and the creation of better data collection facilities.<ref>Rachel Weiner, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/03/18/reince-priebus-gives-gop-prescription-for-future/ "Reince Priebus gives GOP prescription for future", ''The Washington Post'' March 18, 2013] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723051117/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/03/18/reince-priebus-gives-gop-prescription-for-future/ |date=July 23, 2015 }}</ref>

Following [[2014 United States elections|the 2014 elections]], the Republican Party [[2014 United States Senate elections|took control of the Senate]] by gaining nine seats.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/republicans-keep-edge-in-latest-senate-midterm-estimate/|title=Republicans keep edge in latest Senate midterm estimate|work=[[CBS News]]|access-date=September 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907234121/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/republicans-keep-edge-in-latest-senate-midterm-estimate/|archive-date=September 7, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> With 247 seats in the House and 54 seats in the Senate, the Republicans ultimately achieved their largest majority in the Congress since [[71st United States Congress|the 71st Congress]] in 1929.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/11/05/its-all-but-official-this-will-be-the-most-dominant-republican-congress-since-1929/|title=It's all but official: This will be the most dominant Republican Congress since 1929|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=December 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213082316/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/11/05/its-all-but-official-this-will-be-the-most-dominant-republican-congress-since-1929/|archive-date=December 13, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Trump era ====
{{Main|Presidency of Donald Trump|Trumpism}}
[[File:Donald Trump official portrait.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Donald Trump]], the 45th president (2017–2021)]]

In [[2016 United States presidential election|the 2016 presidential election]], Republican nominee [[Donald Trump]] defeated Democratic nominee [[Hillary Clinton]]. The result was unexpected; polls leading up to the election showed Clinton leading the race.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/12-days-stunned-nation-how-hillary-clinton-lost-n794131|title=12 days that stunned a nation: How Hillary Clinton lost|website=[[NBC News]]|date=August 23, 2017|access-date=December 8, 2019|archive-date=January 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128124221/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/12-days-stunned-nation-how-hillary-clinton-lost-n794131|url-status=live}}</ref> Trump's victory was fueled by narrow victories in three states—[[Michigan]], [[Pennsylvania]], and [[Wisconsin]]—that had been part of the [[Blue wall (U.S. politics)|Democratic blue wall]] for decades.<ref name= "elites">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/specials/donald-trump-republican-party/presidency|title=How Trump won and proved everyone wrong with his populist message|website=[[NBC News]] Specials|date=December 14, 2016|access-date=December 8, 2019|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108102242/https://www.nbcnews.com/specials/donald-trump-republican-party/presidency/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was attributed to strong support amongst working-class white voters, who felt dismissed and disrespected by the political establishment.<ref name="campani" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/10/upshot/why-trump-won-working-class-whites.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109094913/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/10/upshot/why-trump-won-working-class-whites.html |archive-date=November 9, 2016 |url-access=limited|url-status=live|title=Why Trump Won: Working-Class Whites|first=Nate|last=Cohn|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 9, 2016|access-date=February 15, 2021}}</ref> Trump became popular with them by abandoning Republican establishment orthodoxy in favor of a broader nationalist message.<ref name= "elites" />

After [[2016 United States elections|the 2016 elections]], Republicans [[2016 United States Senate elections|maintained their majority in the Senate]], [[2016 United States House of Representatives elections|the House]], and [[2016 United States gubernatorial elections|governorships]], and wielded newly acquired executive power with Trump's election. The Republican Party controlled 69 of 99 state legislative chambers in 2017, the most it had held in history.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/12/us/republicans-expand-control-in-a-deeply-divided-nation.html?_r=0|title=Republicans Expand Control in a Deeply Divided Nation|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 11, 2016 |access-date=February 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119193906/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/12/us/republicans-expand-control-in-a-deeply-divided-nation.html?_r=0|archive-date=November 19, 2016|url-status=live|last1=Bosman |first1=Julie |last2=Davey |first2=Monica }}</ref> The Party also held 33 governorships,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.governing.com/archive/gov-2017-2018-governors-races-predictions.html|title=2017-2018 Governors' Races: Where Power Is Most and Least Likely to Flip|date=January 3, 2017|website=Governing}}</ref> the most it had held since 1922.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2016-11-09/republicans-expand-control-of-governorships-legislatures|title=Republicans Governorships Rise to Highest Mark Since 1922|work=[[U.S. News & World Report]]|access-date=September 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915132840/https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2016-11-09/republicans-expand-control-of-governorships-legislatures|archive-date=September 15, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The party had total control of government in 25 states;<ref>{{cite news|title=Republican governorships rise to highest mark since 1922|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2016-11-09/republicans-expand-control-of-governorships-legislature|work=[[U.S. News & World Report]]|date=November 6, 2016|first=David A.|last=Lieb|agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Amber|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/12/these-3-maps-show-just-how-dominant-republicans-are-in-america-after-tuesday/|title=These 3 maps show just how dominant Republicans are in America after Tuesday|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=November 12, 2016|access-date=November 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113061740/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/12/these-3-maps-show-just-how-dominant-republicans-are-in-america-after-tuesday/|archive-date=November 13, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> it had not held total control of this many states since 1952.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lieb|first1=David A.|title=GOP-Controlled States Aim to Reshape Laws|url=https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-tribune/20161229/281822873464433|date=December 29, 2016|agency=Associated Press|access-date=December 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231075054/https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-tribune/20161229/281822873464433|archive-date=December 31, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The opposing Democratic Party held full control of only five states in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Greenblatt|first1=Alan|title=Republicans Add to Their Dominance of State Legislatures|url=http://www.governing.com/topics/elections/gov-republicans-add-dominance-state-legislatures.html|date=November 9, 2016|work=[[Governing (magazine)|Governing]]|access-date=November 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116125852/http://www.governing.com/topics/elections/gov-republicans-add-dominance-state-legislatures.html|archive-date=November 16, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In [[2018 United States elections|the 2018 elections]], Republicans lost control of the House of Representatives, but strengthened their hold on the Senate.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/11/2018-election-results-democrats-regain-control-house/575122/|title=The Democrats Are Back, and Ready to Take On Trump|first=David A.|last=Graham|work=[[The Atlantic]]|date=November 7, 2018|access-date=November 17, 2020|archive-date=December 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209204842/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/11/2018-election-results-democrats-regain-control-house/575122/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Over the course of his presidency, Trump appointed three justices to [[Supreme Court of the United States|the Supreme Court]]: [[Neil Gorsuch]], [[Brett Kavanaugh]], and [[Amy Coney Barrett]]. It was the most Supreme Court appointments for any president in a single term since [[Richard Nixon]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Kumar |first=Anita |date=September 26, 2020 |title=Trump's legacy is now the Supreme Court |work=[[Politico]] |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/26/trump-legacy-supreme-court-422058 |access-date=November 17, 2020 |archive-date=February 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216160832/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/26/trump-legacy-supreme-court-422058 |url-status=live }}</ref> Trump [[List of federal judges appointed by Donald Trump|appointed 260 judges]] in total, creating [[Judicial appointment history for United States federal courts|overall Republican-appointed majorities on every branch of the federal judiciary]] except for the [[Court of International Trade]] by the time he left office, shifting the judiciary to the [[Right-wing politics|right]]. Other notable achievements during his presidency included the passing of the [[Tax Cuts and Jobs Act]] in 2017; the creation of the [[U.S. Space Force]], the first new independent military service since 1947; and the brokering of the [[Abraham Accords]], a series of normalization agreements between [[Israel]] and various [[Arab states]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 22, 2017 |title=Trump signs tax cut bill, first big legislative win |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-signs-tax-cut-bill-first-big-legislative-win-n832141 |website=[[NBC News]] |access-date=April 1, 2021 |archive-date=February 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208215849/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-signs-tax-cut-bill-first-big-legislative-win-n832141 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Leonard  |first=David |date=December 21, 2019 |title=Trump Officially Establishes US Space Force with 2020 Defense Bill Signing |url=https://www.space.com/trump-creates-space-force-2020-defense-bill.html |website=Space.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603070522/https://www.space.com/trump-creates-space-force-2020-defense-bill.html |archive-date= Jun 3, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Forgey |first=Quint |date=September 15, 2020 |title='The dawn of a new Middle East': Trump celebrates Abraham Accords with White House signing ceremony |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/15/trump-abraham-accords-palestinians-peace-deal-415083 |website=[[Politico]] |access-date=April 1, 2021 |archive-date=February 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226143445/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/15/trump-abraham-accords-palestinians-peace-deal-415083 |url-status=live }}</ref> Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives in 2019 on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. On February 5, 2020, the Senate voted to acquit him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/05/trump-acquitted-in-impeachment-trial.html|title=Trump acquitted of both charges in Senate impeachment trial|last1=Wilkie|first1=Christina|last2=Breuninger|first2=Kevin|date=February 5, 2020|website=CNBC}}</ref>

Trump lost [[2020 United States presidential election|the 2020 presidential election]] to Democrat [[Joe Biden]]. He refused to concede the race, claiming widespread electoral fraud and [[Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election|attempting to overturn the results]]. On January 6, 2021, the [[January 6 United States Capitol attack|United States Capitol was attacked by Trump supporters]] following a rally at which Trump spoke. After the attack, the House [[Second impeachment of Donald Trump|impeached Trump for a second time]] on the charge of [[Sedition|incitement of insurrection]], making him the only federal officeholder to be impeached twice.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/trump-impeachment-effort-live-updates/2021/01/13/956449072/house-impeaches-trump-a-2nd-time-citing-insurrection-at-u-s-capitol|title=House Impeaches Trump A 2nd Time, Citing Insurrection At U.S. Capitol|first=Bill|last=Chappell|work=[[NPR]]|date=January 13, 2021|access-date=February 14, 2021|archive-date=February 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220221620/https://www.npr.org/sections/trump-impeachment-effort-live-updates/2021/01/13/956449072/house-impeaches-trump-a-2nd-time-citing-insurrection-at-u-s-capitol|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/13/us/politics/trump-impeached.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/13/us/politics/trump-impeached.html |archive-date=December 28, 2021 |url-access=limited|title=Trump Impeached for Inciting Insurrection|first=Nicholas|last=Fandos|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 13, 2021|access-date=February 14, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Trump left office on January 20, 2021. His impeachment trial continued into the early weeks of the [[Biden presidency]], and he was [[Second impeachment trial of Donald Trump|acquitted on February 13, 2021]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-acquitted-impeachment-trial-7-gop-senators-vote-democrats-convict-n1257876|title=Trump acquitted in impeachment trial; 7 GOP Senators vote with Democrats to convict|first=Dareh|last=Gregorian|work=[[NBC News]]|date=February 13, 2021|access-date=February 14, 2021|archive-date=February 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213205205/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-acquitted-impeachment-trial-7-gop-senators-vote-democrats-convict-n1257876|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2022 and 2023, Supreme Court justices appointed by Trump proved decisive in landmark decisions on [[New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen|gun rights]], [[Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization|abortion]], and [[Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard|affirmative action]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/supreme-court-guns-decision-second-amendment-new-york-2022-6 | title=Supreme Court strikes down century-old New York law, dramatically expanding Second Amendment rights to carry guns outside the home | website=[[Business Insider]] | access-date=November 21, 2022 | archive-date=June 26, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626001859/https://www.businessinsider.com/supreme-court-guns-decision-second-amendment-new-york-2022-6 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/24/roe-v-wade-overturned-by-supreme-court-ending-federal-abortion-rights.html | title=Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, ending 50 years of federal abortion rights | website=[[CNBC]] | date=June 24, 2022 | access-date=November 21, 2022 | archive-date=June 24, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624141534/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/24/roe-v-wade-overturned-by-supreme-court-ending-federal-abortion-rights.html | url-status=live }}</ref> The party went into the [[2022 United States elections|2022 elections]] confident and with analysts predicting a [[Wave elections in the United States|red wave]], but it ultimately underperformed expectations, with voters in [[swing state]]s and competitive districts joining Democrats in rejecting candidates who had been endorsed by Trump or who had denied the results of the 2020 election.<ref name="FiveThirtyEight 2022">{{cite web|date=November 8, 2022|title=<!--2022 Election: Live Analysis and Results-->How Election Week 2022 Went Down|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/live-blog/2022-midterm-election/|access-date=November 17, 2022|website=[[FiveThirtyEight]]|archive-date=November 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116174931/https://fivethirtyeight.com/live-blog/2022-midterm-election/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Hounshell 2022">{{cite news |last=Hounshell |first=Blake |date=November 9, 2022 |title=Five Takeaways From a Red Wave That Didn't Reach the Shore |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/09/us/politics/midterm-elections-takeaways.html |access-date=November 9, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=November 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118043809/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/09/us/politics/midterm-elections-takeaways.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Tumulty 2022">{{cite news |last=Tumulty |first=Karen |date=November 9, 2022 |title=The expected red wave looks more like a puddle |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/11/09/no-red-wave-midterm-outcome-analysis/ |access-date=November 10, 2022 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=November 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112060937/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/11/09/no-red-wave-midterm-outcome-analysis/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The party won control of the House with a narrow majority,<ref name="Cowan 2022">{{cite news |last=Cowan |first=Richard |date=November 17, 2022 |title=Republicans win U.S. House majority, setting stage for divided government |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/republicans-one-seat-away-winning-house-us-midterm-vote-2022-11-16/ |access-date=November 17, 2022 |archive-date=November 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125100214/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/republicans-one-seat-away-winning-house-us-midterm-vote-2022-11-16/ |url-status=live }}</ref> but lost the Senate and several state legislative majorities and governorships.<ref name="composition_2023_05_23_ncsl_org">[https://www.ncsl.org/about-state-legislatures/state-partisan-composition "State Partisan Composition"], May 23, 2023, [[National Conference of State Legislatures]], retrieved July 4, 2023. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704082911/https://www.ncsl.org/about-state-legislatures/state-partisan-composition |date=July 4, 2023 }}.</ref><ref name="states_2023_07_01_gazette">[[Thomas Cronin|Cronin, Tom]] and Bob Loevy: [https://gazette.com/news/american-federalism-states-veer-far-left-or-far-right-cronin-and-loevy/article_47b241d8-1604-11ee-a860-3383285a990d.html "American federalism: States veer far left or far right"], {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704082911/https://gazette.com/news/american-federalism-states-veer-far-left-or-far-right-cronin-and-loevy/article_47b241d8-1604-11ee-a860-3383285a990d.html |date=July 4, 2023 }}, July 1, 2023, updated July 2, 2023, ''[[Colorado Springs Gazette]],'' retrieved July 4, 2023</ref><ref name="trifectas_2023_01_18_nytimes">[https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/11/us/politics/state-legislatures-democrats-trifectas.html "In the States, Democrats All but Ran the Table"], {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704082911/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/11/us/politics/state-legislatures-democrats-trifectas.html |date=July 4, 2023 }} November 11, 2022, ''[[The New York Times]],'' retrieved July 4, 2023</ref> The results led to many Republicans and conservative thought leaders questioning whether Trump should continue as the party's main figurehead and leader.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Bender |first1=Michael C. |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie |date=November 10, 2022 |title=Trump Under Fire From Within G.O.P. After Midterms |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/09/us/politics/trump-republicans-midterms.html |access-date=November 23, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=November 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122225849/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/09/us/politics/trump-republicans-midterms.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gomez |first=Henry |title=Battleground Republicans unload on Trump ahead of expected 2024 announcement |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-election/battleground-republicans-unload-trump-ahead-expected-2024-announcement-rcna57153 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123151640/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-election/battleground-republicans-unload-trump-ahead-expected-2024-announcement-rcna57153 |archive-date=November 23, 2022 |access-date=November 23, 2022 |website=[[NBC News]] |date=November 15, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

==== Current status ====

As of {{CURRENTYEAR}}, the GOP holds a majority in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]]. It also holds 27 [[List of United States governors|state governorships]], 28 [[List of United States state legislatures|state legislatures]], and 23 state [[government trifecta]]s. Six of the nine current [[U.S. Supreme Court]] justices were appointed by Republican presidents. Its most recent presidential nominee was [[Donald Trump]], who served as the 45th president of the United States. There have been 19 Republican presidents, the most from any one political party.