It’s a party of patriots who support liberty, American family values, a limited government, and protecting constitutional freedoms. The Republican Party started in 1854 and has evolved over time. However, Republicans have maintained conservative values, focusing on leaving a legacy of greatness that their children and grandchildren can appreciate.
Those who agree with Republican values and have the doggedness to enter into politics pave the way for Americans, ensuring their freedoms and protecting the country from foreign threats. The party works to ensure integrity during elections, enacting policies that protect and empower Americans.
Baby boomers are those who were born after World War II when there was a birth rate spike. This means people who were born between 1946 and 1964. This is a group of people who have witnessed some of the most influential events in the history of the country. Their experiences have shaped their values, and many baby boomers find themselves aligned with the values of the Republican Party.
There is the ever-outspoken former President Donald Trump, for example, who took the office by storm and is in the running again today. There are those who devoted their entire lives to political careers like Henry Kissinger, Newt Gingrich, and Mitch McConnell. While some Republican personalities are headstrong and single-minded, others are lighthearted, managing to make witty quips even when under fire, like George W. Bush.
To put this list together of the most popular Republicans among baby boomers, 247 Tempo reviewed data provided by YouGov and visited the respective government websites of each individual listed. (On the other side of the coin, check out The 15 Most Popular Democrats Among Baby Boomers.)
#20 Steve Scalise
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 7: House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) speaks during a news conference following a meeting of the House Republican Conference at the U.S. Capitol on May 7, 2024 in Washington, DC. House Republicans have raised concerns over what they call a rise of antisemitism amid the Pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses across the United States. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
In 2008, Steve Scalise was elected to Congress and before that, he served in the Louisiana State Legislature. More recently, from 2014 to 2018, he served as the House Majority Whip. Then in 2019 through 2022, he served as the House Minority Whip. Currently, Scalise holds the second highest position as House Majority Leader. His work focuses on communities throughout the US and he is able to vote and offer guidance in terms of which policies and bills to address. He advocates for several issues, including border security, lower taxes, and ensuring conservative values. He’s credited for helping to boost the US economy with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act as well as the USMCA trade deal.
#19 Mitt Romney
He’s long been known for his get-it-done attitude and most recently, he was sworn in as Utah’s senator. This occurred in 2019 and since then, Mitt Romney has been serving on several different committees. He has been vocal about US foreign policy as well as national security and as a result, he has influenced Congress to ensure the US holds a better position to counter any threats. By 2021, the national defense bill was developed, including an amendment made by Romney himself. His work focuses on improving the lives of Utah’s residents as well as the country as a whole. Before his political career, he had a successful business career. A family man, he has been married to his wife for over 50 years and together, they have 25 grandchildren.
#18 Nikki Haley
She was previously the governor of South Carolina and moved to serve at the United Nations as the US ambassador. Nikki Haley’s political career started early, and it led her to become the first-ever female governor in the state of South Carolina. Not only that, but she was also the first Indian American woman to take on that role. In 2023, Haley announced that she would be running for president. She later dropped out. Most recently, Haley is tackling a new role working with the Hudson Institute, which specializes in foreign policy affairs.
#17 Trey Gowdy
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 12: House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-SC) questions Deputy Assistant FBI Director Peter Strzok during ajoint hearing of his committee and the House Judiciary Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill July 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. While involved in the probe into Hillary ClintonÕs use of a private email server in 2016, Strzok exchanged text messages with FBI attorney Lisa Page that were critical of Trump. After learning about the messages, Mueller removed Strzok from his investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to win the 2016 presidential election. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Born in South Carolina, Trey Gowdy studied history at Baylor University and also attended the University of South Carolina School of Law. After finishing law school, Gowdy went on to work as a clerk for a judge. Shortly after, he worked as a federal prosecutor, focusing on a range of federal crimes that include kidnapping, narcotics trafficking, and child pornography cases. He successfully prosecuted a suspect in the “Americas Most Wanted” list and for that, he received the Postal Inspector’s Award. After leaving the US attorneys office, Gowdy served as 7th Circuit Solicitor in both Spartanburg and Cherokee Counties. He kept busy and started several programs, including a Violence Against Women Task Force. Today, Gowdy works as a host of a television show, he has a podcast, and he is an author. He ended his political career in 2019.
#16 Greg Abbott
He is the governor of Texas and his name is highly revered among Republicans. In fact, just this year, TIME named him one of The 100 Most Influential People in the World. With Abbott‘s leadership, Texas has held onto its strong conservative values and continues to be the kind of environment where you want to raise a family. Abbott’s efforts are focused on creating more jobs, ensuring children have good education, and protecting the rights appointed by Constitution. He also focuses on securing the southern border. Most recently, he bussed migrants over to sanctuary cities, effectively removing them from the state of Texas. In 2022, Governor Abbot was re-elected and is currently serving his third term in office.
#15 Mike Huckabee
Before serving as governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee served as the Lieutenant Governor of the state. At the time, he was one of the youngest to serve. In 2002, he was re-elected for his second term as governor. During his time as governor, he focused on education reforms, healthcare, and overall health for Arkansans. Huckabee also served as chair of the National Governors Association, where he oversaw an initiative that focused on ensuring wellness, jobs, and education for a healthy America. Huckabee is married to his wife, Janet and together, they have three grown children. Huckabee went on to run for president in 2008 and later offered political commentary on TV and and talk radio.
#14 Marco Rubio
Raised by Cuban immigrants, Marco Rubio was heavily influenced by the life of his grandfather, who lived through the destruction following communism in Cuba. Rubio served as speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and he also worked as a city commissioner in West Miami. By 2010, he was elected to the US Senate. He’s currently serving his third term, focusing on Floridians and the country as a whole, ensuring that the nation remains strong. He focuses on reforms that make sense and that promote the improvement of the economy, local communities, and of course, Floridian families. Rubio is married to his wife, Jeanette and together they have four children.
#13 Newt Gingrich
Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Newt Gingrich developed an interest in politics when he was still a young man. He wasn’t successful in his first two attempts running for Congress, but in 1978 he was elected as a representative of Georgia for the US House. His platform was conservative and focused on lowering taxes. Later, he co-founded the Congressional Military Reform Caucus and the Congressional Space Caucus. Two years later in 1983, he went on to found the Conservative Opportunity Society. His conservative ideals were always at the forefront of his mind and he became well known for the document he wrote, “Contract with America.” He went on to publish several more books in the late 90s.
#12 Bob Dole
His negotiation skills were unmatched in much the same way as his tenacity. Bob Dole was severely injured during World War II and had to spend several years in a military hospital during his recovery. Dole was not afraid of crossing party lines and was keen on forging bipartisan alliances like when he worked with George McGovern, a Democrat, to reform the federal food stamp program. Joel served in the Senate representing Kansas for over 27 years and eventually left so he could run for president. In 2018, he received the Congressional Gold Medal. He passed away in 2021 when he was 98 years old.
#11 Rand Paul
He has a penchant for problem-solving using a practical approach and it’s what made him a talented surgeon and an admirable Senator. Dr. Rand Paul was elected to the US Senate in 2010 and has since been steadfast in his goal to keep government from overreaching. He’s not a career politician and instead made the shift from his medical career to shake things up in Washington DC. Dr. Paul continues serving as a US Senator and when he’s not inundated with work, he performs pro bono eye surgeries for those who need a helping hand in Kentucky. He also offers eye surgery free of cost to children from different countries.
#10 Sarah Palin
She studied at the University of Idaho and received a bachelor of science degree in communications and journalism. She has lived in Alaska since 1964 and in 2006, she was elected as governor of the state. This was the first time a woman was elected in Alaska. During her terms, she focused on a few issues, including transportation, infrastructure, education, public health, and resource development. A couple of years later in 2008, Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain selected her to run as vice president. Palin eventually resigned and today, she continues sharing her distinct political views with the goal of promoting Republican values.
#9 Tim Scott
Born in South Carolina, Tim Scott grew up in a single-parent home. With the help of a mentor along with his mother, he was able to rise above his circumstances and turn his life around in school. He developed a mission statement to “positively affect the lives of 1 billion people.” Scott now serves as the US Senator of South Carolina. He joined the Senate in 2013 and has since pioneered efforts to positively impact American families. In 2017, he created a tax reform package that meant improvement for troubled communities. He also focuses on other issues, including education and workforce development. He serves on several senate committees, including housing and urban affairs, banking, finance, foreign relations, small business and entrepreneurship, and aging.
#8 Ron DeSantis
He graduated with honors from Yale University as well as Harvard Law School. Ron DeSantis served as a JAG officer for the US Navy and during his active duty service, he was a part of the operations at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. He was later deployed to Iraq and eventually earned the Bronze Star Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal. When he was no longer on active duty, DeSantis moved on to serve as a federal prosecutor with a focus on convicting child predators. His election to Congress occurred in 2012 and he did not accept his congressional pension and health insurance plan because he doesn’t believe in politicians receiving special treatment. He is Florida’s 46th governor, he’s married to Casey DeSantis, and they have two children together.
#7 George W. Bush
He was first the Governor of Texas and developed a reputation for his conservative principles, which included strong families, taking personal responsibility, and limited government. After serving as Governor of Texas, he became the 43rd president of the US. He served two terms from 2001 until 2009. Bush attended Yale University and earned a bachelor’s degree in history. After that, he served as an F-102 Fighter Pilot in the Texas Air National Guard. He then received a master’s degree from Harvard Business School. Bush published a memoir in 2010 and started the George W. Bush Presidential Center at SMU in Dallas, TX. In retirement, he continues living a fulfilled life that includes fitness, golf, and painting.
#6 Ted Cruz
He believes in the American dream because he has lived it. Ted Cruz went to Harvard Law School after earning his undergraduate degree from Princeton. By 1999, Cruz had joined George W. Bush’s presidential campaign. It was during this time that he met his wife, Heidi Nelson. After serving during the Bush administration, Cruz returned to the great state of Texas to serve as the Solicitor General. During this time, he defended several American rights in the Supreme Court, including the right to keep and bear arms and freedom of speech. After this, he returned to work in private practice.
#5 Elizabeth Dole
She served in five presidential administrations as senator and became the first woman who served under two different presidents in two distinct cabinet positions. She attended Duke university, Harvard, and Harvard Law School. She wasted no time building her résumé after her move to Washington, D.C. When she worked at the Department of Transportation, her primary focus was on increasing safety. She also served as the president of the American Red Cross and her first year, she served as a volunteer and refused a salary. She was married to Senator Bob Dole until his passing in 2021. Today, she still lives in Washington, D.C. and remains active with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation.
#4 Ben Carson
In his early 30s, Ben Carson was working at Johns Hopkins Hospital as the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery. He became well known after successfully separating conjoined twins. His early life was challenging but he went on to receive academic honors before going to medical school. In 2013, Carson retired from medicine and a couple of years later, he decided to pursue a political career. Though he initially wanted to become a Republican candidate for the US presidency, he dropped out and instead joined forces with Donald Trump. Trump appointed him as the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
#3 Donald Trump
The controversial former president is still a favorite for many Republicans who look to him for his unabashed expression and his attempts to “drain the swamp.” Donald Trump wasn’t always a Republican, though. He frolicked about on the left side wing of the same bird for years until his run for the presidency. Trump became the 45th president in 2017 and served a four-year term. He has long been a successful businessman, trying his hand in several industries, including real estate and entertainment. He has also authored several best-sellers. Currently, he is in the running for president again for a Biden-Trump rematch.
#2 Henry Kissinger
He was the first person who served as the National Security Adviser and the Secretary of State — at the same time. Henry Kissinger was born in Germany and immigrated to the US in 1938. He became a naturalized citizen and used his skills as an interpreter for the US Army. When World War II was over, Kissinger went on to Study at Harvard University. He played a major role in assisting Israel after the Egypt and Syria attack in 1973 and he also took part in negotiations that led to the August 1975 Helsinki Accord. He passed away in 2023.
#1 Arnold Schwarzenegger
He’s been well-known as “the Terminator” and surprised fans when he pivoted to a political career, serving as governor of California. Arnold Schwarzenegger was born in Austria and made his way to the US in 1968, just before the height of his bodybuilding career, which eventually transformed into his acting career. In 2003, he pivoted and won a seat as the Republican governor, saying things like “If they don’t have the guts, I call them ‘girlie-men'” when referring to Democrats. He served two terms before returning to his career in Hollywood. (Curious about which Republicans Americans overall like best? Next, read The Most Popular Republicans in the US.)