Anti-Trump Republicans to form a new party, but is it likely scenario?

At least 150 leaders, anti-Trump GOP and independent members, have joined recently formed A Call for American Renewal movement, disappointed of the directions where Republican party is headed since nominating Donald Trump as its presidential candidate.

The idea behind this movement is to “rededicate” the GOP to its founding ideals, which are clearly lost since Trump has ‘overtaken’ GOP.

“We will not wait forever for the GOP to clean up its act,” Miles Taylor, a founder of the movement, tweeted after releasing the five-page document outlining the group’s concerns and goals. “If we cannot save the Republican Party from itself, we will help save America from extremist elements in the Republican Party.”

Local, state and national leaders are among the 150 members in the A Call for American Renewal movement. They say their main goal is to overcome the “division and political extremism” of the current political system seeking their members a “common-sense coalition”.

This is not new actually. Many GOP members are worried about the party and its politics since 2016 when Trump was nominated for presidential candidate. Anti-Trump groups were on the scene ever since, trying everything to block Trump of becoming a nominee. These groups have been less active during Trump’s presidency, but they probably feel ‘the moment is now’ to act and put additional pressure on GOP Trump supporters.

Some of those signing the declaration were figures at some point while Trump was president and are known to the public, but some are completely anonymous. Virginia Rep. Barbara Comstock, former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, former Trump White House Director of Communications Anthony Scaramucci, political commentator Bill O’Reilly are among those taking part in the movement.

We have seen such a movements in the past, but none of those managed to form third party that became viable at any point of their existence. What might be different now? Probably not much.

The grip the Democratic and Republican parties have on the national political structure and the winner-take-all nature of the Electoral College work to keep a third party from gaining a foothold.