2032 Election (CH)

Background
Following Tim Scott's massive victory in the 2028 election, Republican approval ratings were through the roof. There were a growing number of "Scott Democrats", lifetime Democratic voters who voted for Scott in the 2024 and 2028 elections. With the Republicans again controlling the House and Senate, Scott and the Republicans managed to pass massive tax cuts and finally delivered on their two decade-long promise to repeal and replace Obamacare in 2030.

Despite Scott's high approval rating for the first six years of his term, his numbers began to decline in late 2030, and the Democrats took control of the Senate, bringing an end to six years of Republican dominance. While Scott was still a very popular individual in America, many were beginning to become frustrated that the same problems still existed.

On February 10, 2031, a newly formed terrorist group named ISOI (Independent States of Islam) detonated a bomb in New Orleans, LA. The blast killed 103 people and injured 540 more. It was the first major terrorist attack on U.S. soil since the Boston Marathon Bombing in 2013. In the immediate aftermath of the bombing, Scott signed an executive order to close the borders of the United States for 30 days. Polling in the days following showed that just 34% of the public agreed with Scott's executive order, with 47% disagreeing. Following the events, Scott's approval rating dropped to 44%, the lowest of his tenure.

Republican Primary
Despite Scott's approval rating declining in the final years of his presidency, he was still one of the most popular presidents in American history. Republicans still thought that they were in a strong position to win the White House again, and make Scott the first president since Ronald Reagan to have a successor from their own party. A large reason why Republicans felt so confident was due to the number of Scott Democrats, similar to the Reagan Democrats 40 years prior.