Former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson, a potential 2024 GOP presidential nominee, told Orange County Republicans Wednesday that the party must nominate a proven leader and consistent conservative who can win over independent and suburban voters to take back the White House.

“I believe our country needs leaders who have been governors and who have led in difficult circumstances, such as during a pandemic. We need people with experience in managing large agencies and … how to balance a budget” said Hutchinson. About 50 members of the Laguna Niguel Republican Women Federated club at a clubhouse on a golf course in San Juan Capistrano.

Hutchinson, once an ally of former President Trump who is now speaking out against him, later added: “Frankly, we need a course correction in our party as well.”

The 72-year-old spent three days in Southern California courting Republican activists, donors and voters in the final weeks before deciding whether to run for president in April.

next year

.

In addition to speaking for the GOP women’s group, Hutchinson also spoke at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda and at two events for the Orange County Republican Party. He also met reporters and the New Majority and the Lincoln Club, two influential corporate donor groups.

Hutchinson, who agrees he’s a long shot if he decides to run, is one of the few potential GOP contenders with a long list of Republican bona fides openly critical of Trump.

Hutchinson has said Trump, announcing he will run again in 2024, is appealing to our country’s worst instincts’ and that the nation should not be guided by arrogance and vengeance in the future.

Hutchinson told USA Today earlier this month that Trump, whom he voted for twice and whose campaign he led in Arkansas in 2020, should step out of respect for the institution of the United States presidency if he is named as the former president who announced that he is expected in recent days. Earlier this year, Hutchinson said Trump should be disqualified from ever holding elected office again because of his involvement in the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

He has also criticized Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who said it was naive of the likely 2024 contender to say the United States has no interest in trying to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Trump and DeSantis

,

who has not yet officially announced a presidential run, leads polls of Republican voters in California and across the country, while Hutchinson is widely unknown.

During his visit to Orange County, Hutchinson praised his record as governor of Arkansas, which included cutting the state’s income tax by 2.1%, creating 100,000 private sector jobs, keeping schools and businesses open during the pandemic and creating a business-friendly environment

allowing the state to build a $3 billion steel mill, meaning Arkansas will surpass Pennsylvania in steel production

.

He outlined five priorities he would focus on when running for president: ending out-of-control spending, reasserting US international leadership, securing the

S

border, increasing domestic energy production and holding back the federal government from promoting what he called “a left-wing social agenda.”

“I think we have to win the hearts and minds of Americans on the Republican side again to show our leadership, and we can not only win the conservative votes in a Republican primary, but we can win independents and suburban voters in the fall elections,” Hutchinson said.

“And I challenge anyone here when you’re evaluating candidates for leadership positions at any level, are they consistent conservatives, but second, can they win in November?”

While Hutchinson has repeatedly said he won’t make a decision until April, his travel schedule shows how clearly he’s considering a bid. On the last day of his two terms as governor of Arkansas in January, he visited Iowa, where the first Republican nominating contest is scheduled for 2024. Hutchinson has also appeared in the early voting states of New Hampshire and South Carolina.

In an interview, he said his decision would depend on “whether my consistent conservative message is right for the GOP and America [and] if the financing can be successful.”

California

which has the most delegates to the Republican National Convention where the party will officially elect its nominee,

moved the 2024 primary to March, increasing its weight in the process.

“California is important and should be important,” he said in the interview. “I’ve always said the GOP should be able to get votes in California. And we can’t just get one

m

middle

American party.”

Hutchinson’s supporters think he is an attractive presidential candidate because of his even-tempered temperament and long resume in GOP politics. In addition to serving two terms as governor, Hutchinson spent four years in Congress, headed the Drug Enforcement Administration, and served as undersecretary in the Department of Homeland Security. Previously, as a federal prosecutor, Hutchinson donned a body armor while he helped peacefully negotiate a standoff with violent white supremacists at their remote camp in rural Arkansas.