At the 2021 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Donald Trump topped the straw poll of declared and likely Republican 2024 presidential candidates, earning 62% of the vote. However, the absence of key potential players, such as former Vice President Mike Pence and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, has sparked debate among Republicans about how to best set a new course for the party and nominate someone other than Trump in 2024. Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's announcement that he would not run further highlighted the divisions within the party, leaving the question of who will ultimately emerge as the Republican nominee in the next presidential election unanswered.
