CHALLENGES AND DILEMMAS FOR REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AFTER 2018

Abstract

The 2016 U.S. presidential election and its result exposed the deep divide in the U.S. political system. That has since become even more polarized as disputes between Republicans and Democrats intensify. That has been exacerbated in recent years as both parties suffer from internal disputes between conservatives, ultraconservatives, moderates and progressives. As one of the most visible symptoms of this divide, the ‘Trump factor’ continues to be a negative disruption of the political norm for many Republicans and almost all Democrats. Starting from the U.S. mid-term elections in 2018, this article will deal with the first debates and progress toward the 2020 presidential election, analyzing the challenges and candidates.