Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan Hosting Next Wave of 2024 Candidates at Pivotal Donor Summit

Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan recently made headlines when they hosted a three-day conference for potential 2024 candidates at an influential donor summit. The summit, which took place over the weekend of April 10th and 11th, brought together Republican leaders, business leaders, and potential presidential hopefuls to discuss their visions for the country and what we must do moving forward. Romney and Ryan, two of the most influential names within the Republican Party, see the conference as an opportunity for discussing and learning from different Republican perspectives, including fiscal and social policy. The goal is to give conservative-leaning individuals the chance to unite on common ground and to lay the groundwork for a competitive campaign two and a half years from now. Romney and Ryan announced the summit in early April after rejecting expected invitations to the Republican National Convention (RNC) and Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Although they may not be attending those events as a show of solidarity, their summit is still being viewed as an effort to reassemble and reinvigorate the Republican Party. The tight-lipped guest list included potential 2024 contenders from Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Other invitees included former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, and Texas Senator Ted Cruz. Invitees were asked to brainstorm ideas to get the economy back on track, secure the future of the party, and plan a successful 2024 campaign. The weekend consisted of a series of panel discussions and speeches on policy and strategy. Guests were encouraged to debate among one another and to offer constructive criticism to one another. Many of those in attendance are members of the Republican establishment but they have not necessarily agreed on the path forward for the Republican Party. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan believe that the summit will help repair frayed ties and create a more united front for the Republican Party. Former RNC Chairman and fellow speaker Reince Priebus had similar thoughts, saying that the weekend “will bring us together on common ground to discuss the best paths forward for the Republican Party.” It is clear that the Republican Party is at a crossroads and will need to make strategic decisions if it wants to remain competitive in the 2024 election and beyond. The Romney-Ryan summit was a positive step for the party in that it was able to bridge differences and unify the GOP.