Listen to the article
In a rallying call for the conservative movement, Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts emphasized that the future hinges on candidates embracing populism while addressing issues typically avoided in Washington. Speaking to Fox News Digital at AmericaFest in Phoenix, Roberts expressed optimism despite recent electoral defeats for conservatives across several states.
“I was expecting to be really encouraged, and I am,” Roberts said, describing the passion he witnessed at the conference, which took place following the murder of Charlie Kirk. “There’s a lot of passion and encouragement in that room.”
Roberts urged conservatives to dismiss “naysayers and doomsayers” focused on recent midterm losses. Despite setbacks in Virginia, New Jersey, Florida, and Pennsylvania, he maintained that conservatives “ought to be more optimistic” after what he described as a successful first year of collaboration between the Trump-Vance administration and House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Looking ahead to the 2026 elections, Roberts emphasized the importance of developing a clear policy vision. “What we’ve got to do for 2026 is articulate to the American people what those policy priorities need to be; not just for the short term but for the long term,” he said, noting that Heritage Foundation plans to be central to these discussions.
The key to future success, according to Roberts, lies in conservatives running on an “aspirational vision” that was notably absent in several 2025 races. He cited Jack Ciattarelli’s gubernatorial campaign in New Jersey as one of the better-executed efforts, despite its ultimate failure.
Roberts outlined several uncomfortable but necessary policy conversations that conservative leaders should be willing to address. These include the future of the American family, workplace dignity beyond paychecks, and the fundamental question of “what it means to be an American.” He specifically highlighted immigration as a critical issue, asking, “How can we assimilate the highest percentage of foreign-born population we’ve had in modern American history?”
He warned that if establishment figures in Washington continue focusing on peripheral issues, “the midterms are going to be a disaster.” Instead, Roberts urged politicians to address voters’ actual concerns with substantive policy solutions.
With Trump term-limited after 2028, Roberts addressed the future leadership of the conservative movement. He advocated for “a good fusion of the best elements of populism” combined with longstanding conservative principles such as reducing the administrative state.
“Whoever the standard-bearers are for conservatism in 2028, 2032, 2036, their policy ideas are going to sound a lot like Trump’s, but of course they are going to bring their own imprint into that,” Roberts predicted.
For 2026, Roberts revealed that Heritage will concentrate on four key areas: family, the future of free enterprise, national security, and citizenship. The organization also plans to leverage Heritage Action for America, its advocacy arm, to communicate these priorities to voters and potential candidates.
“Those of us who focus on ideas and policy for a living need to do our jobs zealously well to keep offering not just the long-standing policy ideas, but some innovative ones as well,” Roberts concluded.
The AmericaFest conference, which attracted thousands of conservatives nationwide, provided a platform for this forward-looking discussion amid a period of reflection for the movement after recent electoral disappointments.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
10 Comments
Passion and enthusiasm are important, but they need to be channeled into effective policymaking and outreach to swing voters. Conservatives should carefully consider how to balance populist appeal with broader electoral viability.
While passion and optimism are important, I think conservatives also need to grapple with the reasons behind their recent electoral setbacks. Dismissing ‘naysayers and doomsayers’ may not be the best path forward.
I appreciate the optimistic tone, but electoral defeats are still defeats. Conservatives will need more than just passion to win back voters. A clear, pragmatic policy agenda grounded in conservative principles could be a good start.
The idea of ‘fusion’ between populism and conservatism is intriguing, but it raises questions about the long-term sustainability and cohesion of the conservative movement. Curious to hear more about the practical implementation of this approach.
Articulating a clear policy vision for 2026 is crucial, but it needs to be grounded in conservative principles and resonate with a diverse electorate. Curious to hear more about the specific proposals and strategies under consideration.
Interesting perspective on embracing populism as a conservative strategy. While it may energize the base, I’m curious how that would play out in a general election context. Curious to hear more about the policy vision for 2026.
While I appreciate the optimistic tone, I think conservatives need to grapple with the root causes of their recent electoral setbacks. Dismissing ‘naysayers and doomsayers’ may not be the best path forward.
Curious to hear more about the ‘Trump-Vance administration’ and their collaboration with House Speaker Johnson. What specific policies or initiatives have they spearheaded that could resonate with a broader electorate?
The ‘fusion’ of populism and conservatism is an interesting concept, but it raises questions about maintaining core conservative values. How can the movement balance populist appeal with principled policymaking?
Developing a clear policy vision for 2026 is critical. Conservatives should focus on pragmatic, solutions-oriented proposals that address the concerns of a diverse electorate, not just the party base.