Republicans just lost both houses of Congress in a massive defeat and real-time referendum on the failed policies of President Donald J. Trump. The American people have rejected the president’s policies, big government Republicanism, MAGA, America First and the failures of the current administration and Republican Congress. The 2028 presidential election begins now. Trump will likely never again lead the Republican party in a general election.

It is time to begin the debate about the future of a principled Republican party in the post-Trump era. My organization, Our Republican Legacy, is dedicated to nominating and electing a legacy Republican president. As candidates come forward and begin their presidential campaigns, we will be looking to support one or more leaders who stand for our party’s traditional core principles. We embrace five founding principles that guide our value system and must once again guide the future of the GOP.

First, is unity. Like President Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president, we believe in the sanctity of preserving our union and democracy by uniting — not dividing – Americans. The second is the Constitution. We support and defend the rule of law, including all of our individual freedoms and rights under the Constitution. We oppose the rise of authoritarianism and corruption that undermines the rule of law and exceeds the chief executive’s legal authority. Third, fiscal responsibility. We support the swift return to responsible fiscal policy to protect and defend the full faith and credit of the United States government, which is under attack and threatened by unsustainable federal debt that exceeds our annual gross domestic product.

Fourth, free enterprise. We support — and as a nation need — a thriving domestic economy as well as a globally competitive economy based on market principles with sound regulation, full transparency and disclosure and a clear legal framework.

We oppose senseless, destructive tariffs, which are regressive taxes that raise prices on consumers and lead to unnecessary trade wars that no nation wins. Fifth and finally, peace through strength. Our society’s freedoms and resilience as an inspiring beacon of hope and democracy for other nations for over 250 years are supported by maintaining a strong national defense. We oppose a retreat into isolationism and launching unauthorized wars that lack popular support or a strategy for victory.

We recommit to our traditional allies and strategic alliances such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. We support the defense of Ukraine against Russian aggression. We call on all traditional Reaganite legacy conservatives who share these principles to rally and reengage, whether you have left the Republican Party, or have simply remained silent during the Trump years. We are confident that one or more strong conservative leaders will emerge in the presidential contest soon to begin.

They will need our help. The struggle for the soul of the Republican Party now moves to a new level. This battle will be waged on multiple fronts: grassroots conversations, party organizations, local contests, candidate recruitment, congressional and legislative primaries and ultimately the nomination of a true Republican for president. This administration’s MAGA culture and its big government, divisive, protectionist, nativist and isolationist ideology must not be the future of the party of Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan.

Political parties are defined by struggle and competition. Conservatives lost control of the Republican Party in 2016 to Trump’s band of populists. It is time for principled Republicans to take it back. The battle for 2028 is here. Chris Vance is executive director of Our Republican Legacy and a former chairman of the Washington State Republican Party.