EVEN if Donald Trump had not become president, Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona would probably still be facing a challenge in the Republican Senate primary in 2018. Grassroots conservatives in Arizona have long distrusted him for his perceived apostasy, especially his support for immigration reform. But Mr Trump is the president, and Mr Flake has cast himself as a voice of intraparty opposition to him, transforming his bid for a second term into a battle for the soul of the Republican Party.
Alabama provides a glimpse of what may be in store. On September 26th, Roy Moore, a populist conservative jurist, defeated Senator Luther Strange, the incumbent, in the state’s Republican primary. Though Mr Strange had the support of the president, it was Mr Moore who carried the banner for those who want to “drain the swamp,” as Mr Trump is fond of saying. Mr Strange’s defeat was a loss for the establishment, and political prognosticators now look to other states, Arizona included, to see if the far-right rebellion will...Continue reading
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