Trump officially gets another rival for the 2024 GOP nomination

Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson announced Sunday that he is challenging Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.

“I’ve made a decision, and my decision is that I’m going to run for President of the United States,” Hutchinson, who served as governor from 2015 to 2023, said during an interview with journalist Jonathan Karl on ABC News. This week.

The former governor said he will make a formal campaign announcement later in April in Arkansas. He added that he is motivated by his belief that voters want presidential candidates who speak to “the best of America.”

“The reason, because I’ve been touring the country for six months, I hear people talking about the leadership of our country. I am convinced that people want leaders who appeal to the best of America and not just appeal to our worst instincts. That inspires me when I see everyday Americans simply saying, “Give us good leadership. Give us common sense, consistent conservatism and optimism about our great country,” Hutchinson said. “That inspires me and I believe that I can be that kind of leader for the people of America.”

EXCLUSIVE: Former Governor Asa Hutchinson announces 2024 presidential nomination.

“This is one of the most unpredictable political environments I have seen in my life. So my message of experience, of consistent conservatism… I think that resonates.” pic.twitter.com/ETkXVQUXso

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) April 2, 2023

Hutchinson, who has been critical of Trump at times, is seen as a more traditional conservative alternative to Trump, who was president from 2017-2021 but lost the 2020 race to President Joe Biden.

The former governor has long said it’s time for the GOP to get past Trump. Last May, he said the former president “shouldn’t define” the future of the Republican Party. Meanwhile, in an interview with CNN last November, he knocked on the “chaos” Trump is bringing to the party.

“We know the chaos that comes with it, and that really isn’t the kind of leadership that’s good for America and really for the future of our party,” he said.

Hutchinson has also broken with some Republicans, including Trump, over the party’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine war. In February he has released a statement Call on the GOP to continue providing aid to the war-torn country, despite calls from some to limit that support.

A handful of other high-profile Republicans, including former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, have also announced campaigns. Several others are expected to make decisions in the coming months.

What polls say about Hutchinson’s chances of beating Trump

Polls suggest Hutchinson is entering the Republican primary as an underdog candidate. Trump, who remains fairly popular with the GOP base despite an overall slipping approval rating, leads most polls and is seen as the front runner in the primary.

According to a Fox News poll conducted March 24-27, just 1 percent of Republican primary voters said they want to support Hutchinson. The survey had an error rate of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points. Other polls have similarly found Hutchinson polls to be in the low single digits.

A Morning Consult poll released last April found that Hutchinson was one of the most popular governors in the United States. According to the poll, 63 percent of Arkansas residents gave Hutchinson positive grades, while 29 percent disapproved.

news week reached out to Hutchinson’s America Strong Free PAC for comment.

Update 4/2/2023 10:47 AM ET: This article has been updated with additional information.