America needs another Reagan — Nikki Haley is following his path to power

The 2024 presidential election is over. So I guess it’s time to start talking about 2028.

Many big political players get swallowed up and kicked to the curb during election season. But the ones who walk that fine line between independence and cooperation get to step back into the field of play when the next one begins. And in the recent election cycle, no one walked that line better than former UN ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R).

Haley consistently challenged Donald Trump while never walking away from his supporters. She proved herself to be a strong fundraiser and effective leader, building a grassroots network to be envied. While Ron DeSantis and his supporters were trapped in their intellectual bubbles, Haley and her supporters connected with the everyday American families who feel left out of the single person’s game of politics.

As Democrats scurry to rebuild a coalition for the midterms, Republicans will have a head start if they build upon the coalition that Haley built during her primary run. Trump has already said he won't nominate the former Haley to his Cabinet, so she is free to critique both the majority and minority powers. Haley can swing back and forth and build a more robust base for 2028.

There was another renegade statesman who decided to primary the party's chosen candidate. Ronald Reagan took on incumbent president Gerald Ford in 1976, spurned by differences over foreign policy and the economy. Reagan fought for the “soul of the Republican Party.” He advocated for a tougher stance on the Soviet Union, as well as tax and spending cuts.

As Reagan did to Ford, Haley went after Trump on the campaign trail over economic issues. She lumped him with all the other recent presidents, saying, “Joe Biden, Donald Trump, and Barack Obama added more to our national debt than the previous 42 presidents combined.” Haley ripped Trump for “reckless spending” and proposed her Freedom Plan that would “reduce income tax rates, make small-business tax relief permanent, and reduce spending to pre-pandemic levels.”

When Trump took office in 2016, the national debt was $19.95 trillion; when he left office in 2020, it was $27.75 trillion. Since Joe Biden took office, the debt has grown by $8.2 trillion to $35.96 trillion. It seems that regardless of who is in charge, the country’s finances are ignored. Meanwhile, while Haley was governor of South Carolina, its debt shrank from $71 billion in 2012 to $15 billion by 2015.

Just as Reagan challenged Ford for being weak on foreign policy, Haley did the same to Trump. Haley called him out for having a “bromance” with dictators and differing with him over Ukraine policy. She criticized Trump for being too focused on the trade relationship between the U.S. and China and doing “too little about the rest of the Chinese threat.”

Haley and Reagan have a lot in common. Both were former governors and advocates of U.S. military power who challenged the status quo. They also share the same polite charm that can captivate the American electorate. Both have a professional yet homespun appeal.

The 2024 election might go down as the first podcast election. Trump benefited from appearing on podcasts like the “Ben Shapiro Show.” Tim Pool interviewed him, and his appearances on Theo Von and Joe Rogan helped secure his victory. During the election, Harris was tepid about doing podcasts and leaned more toward the mainstream media, which appears to have cost her.

Haley, on the other hand, understands the appeal and has started her own podcast.

Ford defeated Reagan in 1976, but the campaign propelled Reagan to a landslide victory over Jimmy Carter in 1980. Between 1976 and 1980, Reagan spent his time expanding his base and building a coalition to win. Haley can do the same. She can use her new podcast to connect with and grow her base, doing cross-platform promotions while continuing to use her voice to shape her vision for America.

Not every defeat is a loss; sometimes, it’s just the first battle. Haley tapped into something missing in American politics: the American family. She connected with voters over her experience as a mom. Parents all across the country understand what it is to manage their finances and pay down their debt. They are frustrated with decades of lavish spending. They want a world where their children are safe to build their own families instead of getting saddled with past debt or trapped in another war.

Haley proved herself by standing up to the party establishment and the bully-in-chief, Donald Trump. Now, she must continue building her relationship with the American people. If she can do that, then we may finally see the first female president by 2028.

Jeff Mayhugh is the founding editor of Politics and Parenting and vice president at No Cap Fund.