Anti-Trump Republicans Lining Up for 2024 Shadow Primary

Associated PressPublished: March 15, 2022

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 1: Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), vice-chair of the select committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol, speaks during a committee meeting on Capitol Hill on December 1, 2021 in Washington, DC. The committee voted unanimously to recommend contempt of Congress charges for former Department of Justice official Jeffrey Clark for defying his subpoena by refusing to answer questions and failing to hand over documents to the committee. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

By STEVE PEOPLES, AP National Politics Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — A shadow primary has begun to take shape among no fewer than three fierce Republican critics of former President Donald Trump to determine who's best positioned to occupy the anti-Trump lane in the next presidential contest.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is planning trips to Iowa and New Hampshire.

OXON HILL, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 09: Maryland Governor Larry Hogan speaks to press as MGM National Harbor, Governor Larry Hogan and Joe Theismann launch sports betting in Maryland with BETMGM at MGM National Harbor on December 09, 2021 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (Photo by Shannon Finney/Getty Images for MGM National Harbor)

Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois is already offering a rough timeline for a potential announcement.

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 19: U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) listens during a select committee meeting investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol at Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill October 19, 2021 in Washington, DC. The committee voted to hold former Trump adviser Stephen Bannon in criminal contempt for refusing to cooperate with the committee’s subpoena. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

And congresswoman Liz Cheney of Wyoming has vowed to do "whatever it takes" to block Trump's return to the White House.

Their apparent willingness to run represents a remarkable shift from four years ago when "Never Trump" operatives failed to recruit any GOP officeholders.