November 5, 2024
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) will not be running for president during the 2024 election cycle, further paving the way for a Donald Trump ticket.

Until this week, Cotton was one of those looking at a national campaign. He has spent much of the last two years campaigning across the country for Republican midterm candidates, using local races as an opportunity to introduce himself to voters. He has taken a series of trips to Iowa and New Hampshire, which host the party’s first two presidential nominating contests. And he raised $8 million that could have seeded a presidential campaign account.

Former President Trump has strongly signaled a 2024 run, with reports indicating that he could announce his candidacy shortly after the midterm election. Whether or not the former president will be running in the primary unopposed remains unknown at this time, but he would likely face at least one primary challenge from a fierce critic such as soon-t0-be former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY).

“I think 2024 is going to be really important,” Cheney said in October. “It’s going to be crucial that we elect people that will defend the Constitution. I haven’t made a decision yet about what I’m going to do. We have a lot of excellent candidates. We have a lot of bad candidates too. So, I’ll make a decision about that in the coming months.”