The Republican Civil War

An insightful examination of intra-party conflict in Wyoming, revealing a fundamental disagreement between Republicans that will determine the future of the American right.

No state has been more Republican and loyal to Donald Trump than Wyoming. The appearance of homogeneity, though, masks a fierce battle for the future of the party. In The Republican Civil War, Stephanie Muravchik and Jon A. Shields draw on years of on-the-ground research and dozens of interviews with elected officials and activists, finding a party divided over whether it should abandon its traditional focus on governance for a new nationalized form of identity politics. While old guard Republicans aim to solve local problems within an ethos of noblesse oblige, MAGA insurgents position themselves as “true conservatives” leading a censorious crusade against the establishment. More surprisingly, the same social cleavages that divide red and blue American—class and ruralness—shape this civil war. Most of the new insurgents in the legislature don’t have college degrees and see themselves as part of a rural uprising. By shedding light on a civil war in the deepest of red states, this book not only advances our understanding of the new conservative politics of identity, it also offers a clear portrait of a GOP establishment resisting—not just capitulating—to Trumpism.

Author Biography

Stephanie Muravchik teaches American politics at Claremont McKenna College and is an associate fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture. Her previous books include Trump’s Democrats (2020, with Jon A. Shields). Her writings have also appeared in popular outlets, including the Bulwark, New York Times, and Hedgehog Review. Jon A. Shields is a professor of American politics in the government department at Claremont McKenna College. His previous books include Trump’s Democrats (2020, with Stephanie Muravchik). His writings have also appeared in a range of popular outlets, including the Atlantic, Bulwark, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and New York Times.