The New York Post has a really gossipy article today speculating that former Trump consultant Corey Lewandowski may be trying to return from political exile by promoting a primary race against Senate Majority Leader John Thune, running former South Dakota Governor and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem against him in 2028:
“Corey is looking for ways to get back in good with President Trump” is how one Republican strategist put it — and when Lewandowski recently singled out Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), eyebrows went up around Washington and the Black Hills.
and..
“The American people will be looking at someone who has a proven history of winning an election in South Dakota to maybe challenge John Thune,” he added, a description that sources said put them in mind of Noem, who became the first woman elected governor of the state in 2018 after serving four terms in the House of Representatives.
and..
Meanwhile, Thune would likely be a formidable opponent for Noem. Several Republican strategists with ties to South Dakota told The Post they still see the majority leader in a strong position to win a fifth term in 2028.
The 65-year-old has a long history of public service, having served in the House of Representatives for six years before his election to the Senate in 2004.
There was some rabble at the Republican convention attempting to poke at Senator Thune this last June, but even in this divisive time, they were quickly put down in their efforts. Which should give anyone planning to challenge him pause. Two years is a long time, and I don’t think Team Thune is going to take anything for granted. Politically, between now and 2028, there’s a lot that’s going to change, including a race for a new president that’s going to begin.
While Trump is popular at the moment, continued cringe-worthy prices for gasoline and other economic factors may thin his margin of popularity, even here in Red-State South Dakota. So it might be a stretch at this point to claim that a Trumpy campaign against JT can succeed. Ultimately, I don’t know that I see a challenge against John from Kristi, as much as we might see a re-run from a third-tier candidate like a Bruce Whalen or a Mark Mowry, who have attempted and failed before.
Let’s talk after the mid-terms. I think they may say a lot.
John Thune should run for president. Be nice to have someone with a decent temperament again
While Sen Thune is clearly vulnerable (can’t even get a farm bill out of committee apparently) talk around the bar is that he is not vulnerable to Special Envoy Noem. People have seen that and want no part of it. A race between her and Bialota would be competitive.
There might be 13 people in South Dakota who still like Kristi. And Thune and his media people aren’t exactly slackers.