Illinois State University political scientist Kerri Milita says the apparent Donald Trump presidential nomination may hurt other Republican candidates in the November election.
Speaking on GLT's Sound Ideas, Milita said people going to vote for Trump will have an anti-establishment mindset and that may transfer to other races.
"Whoever you tend to vote for president, you kind of walk in the polls with a certain mood, a mindset. Walking in to vote for Trump is going to put you in a 'pro-outsider, anti-establishment' mood and you're more likely to cast those sorts of votes further down the ballot," said Milita.
Milita also said GOP establishment will not change its focus on less government and regulation and desiring closer ties with Latinos even though Trump does not follow party orthodoxy.
"Donald Trump has set the Republican party's goals back, but I don't think the Republican party establishment will abandon those goals just because of the Trump nomination, and be like 'alright, we're gonna be the party who builds walls instead of bridges.' That's not smart for the Republican party to do. But it would be equally unwise for the Republican party to continue this #NeverTrump," Milita said.
Milita said in spite of Bernie Sanders' win in Indiana, Hilary Clinton is the presumptive nominee for Democrats. She said Sanders is staying in the race to influence the party platform.
