Who’s Going to CPAC? More Important – Who’s Not

The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) this year (March 1-4)  is set to be quite an interesting affair. The backdrop to 2023’s festivities is a peek behind the curtain on the future of the Republican Party as it kicks off the 2024 presidential campaign.

As usual, the event will attract conservative activists, influencers, and a veritable smorgasbord of individuals from across the country. The lineup of speakers could predict how the upcoming battle between the two factions vying for dominance of the party might turn out. Indeed, noteworthy about this year’s CPAC is not just who is showing up but who is not.

Presidential Candidates to Make Their Cases at CPAC

To start, it is appropriate to mention the elephants in the room – at least the ones seeking the GOP presidential nomination. Former President Donald Trump, fresh off a high-profile visit to the residents of East Palestine, OH, will once again address the crowd as the keynote speaker on the final day.

The conference has become something of a political home base for the former president who has spoken at several events over the years. Trump’s highly anticipated speech will likely be designed to energize his base as he heads into the campaign season. Attendees can expect his usual stand-up comedy routine and vicious attacks against Democrats and members of the activist media – all the stuff that made people love him in the first place.

Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley also will be a featured speaker. After having announced her candidacy for president, she will make her case to the CPAC audience. It is not likely she will take any potshots at her former boss; she has remained complimentary of Trump. But this will be her chance to differentiate herself from the rest of the field. She has already positioned herself as a younger leader who can better represent the party moving forward.

“There’s a lot of next-generation candidates out there, and I think that Nikki is tactfully going to try to make the case that there’s a real choice between these older guys like Trump and this younger generation of leaders that are changing the world,” a Republican consultant told The Hill. “Having them both at CPAC, you’re going to have two very different types of personalities to compare.”

At a time when some perceive that Trump’s influence has waned, Haley might be in a position to capitalize on the desire for something new. Saul Anuzis, a Republican strategist, told The Hill that “it’s really an opportunity to introduce herself in a different vein” and that “she’s gotta basically show why she’s credible … without being anti-Trump.”

Dueling Events?

There is another elephant, but this one will not be in the room. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, viewed as Trump’s most potent competitor if he enters the race, will not be attending this year’s CPAC. Instead, he will be the key attraction at the Club for Growth’s private retreat for donors held in Palm Beach, FL.

The two events cover the same days, and some speakers will take the stage at both. This is easily seen as a preview of the coming power struggle between the Trump and DeSantis wings of the conservative movement. Indeed, the Club for Growth, which previously had a strong alliance with the former president, did not extend him an invitation to the retreat. The organization’s relationship with Trump soured over the past few years, and it appears it has found a new champion in DeSantis.

The other potential 2024 candidates attending Club for Growth’s retreat are former Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, Politico has confirmed. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rick Scott (R-FL), who have not yet signaled interest in a presidential run, are set to speak to donors.

Conversely, CPAC’s speaker lineup reveals a decidedly MAGA bent, with Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA), Matt Gaetz (FL), Lauren Boebert (CO), and Elise Stefanik (NY) slated to address the crowd. Former White House senior adviser Stephen Miller and Truth Social chief executive Devin Nunes will take the stage as well. It is essentially a who’s who of the America First crowd.

What Will CPAC Bring?

While others are expected to seek the GOP nomination for president, all eyes are on Trump and DeSantis, even though the latter has not yet announced his candidacy. Shortly after the midterm elections, the division began to materialize, with both camps gradually forming. This is the beginning of what could be a bitter, hard-fought battle between Team Trump and Team DeSantis.

Another notable factor is that when it comes to Republican presidential politics, the establishment is still nowhere to be seen. There might be a candidate who represents the old guard in the upcoming campaign season, but this person will be taken about as seriously as Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) giving a lecture on national security.

Right now, this battle is between the two non-establishment factions of the party, and the debate will be over who should spearhead the America First populist movement, not whether the old guard should continue leading the way. This year’s CPAC will likely bring its share of fireworks and leftist meltdowns. But political junkies are certain to be watching what the proceedings portend for the future of the Republican Party.