Republicans are still debating the party’s direction after major election losses, with the stakes rising ahead of a contentious 2028 presidential primary; few have publicly blamed Trump, and some describe the incoming conference as more conservative.

That shift is reflected in the shrinking ranks of moderates: the Republican Governance Group lost nearly half of its roughly 50 members, the Problem Solvers Caucus lost 13 of its 19 Republican members, and only about two dozen of the 120 House Republicans who opposed challenging the 2020 election results remain.

The party’s new leadership and recent votes also point to a stronger conservative wing: Republicans elected Jim Jordan by a landslide over establishment-backed Steve Scalise, and nearly all House Republicans blocked a vote that could have initiated impeachment proceedings against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Against that backdrop, centrist Republicans including Dave Joyce, Mike Simpson and Nick LaLota are urging the party to focus on voters’ practical concerns, including living costs, housing, energy, education and jobs, rather than escalating attacks on Democrats or moving further toward the MAGA agenda.

LaLota has also called for working with Democrats on issues such as immigration reform, saying negotiation and compromise can fit conservative values; he agreed with Trump’s post-election assessment that his deportation policy may have been too tough and poorly explained.

Hardliners reject the argument that Republicans lost because they were too conservative, saying the party failed to deliver on its promises; Scott Perry and other Freedom Caucus members are pressing for tougher border policies and Trump’s voting bill, while some ultraconservatives want a package codifying Trump’s hardline border policies and cutting at least $1 trillion in government spending.

Brian Mast, meanwhile, said the party would remain conservative, describing adherence to the Constitution as its form of moderation.