Conservatives need to embrace ‘fusion’ of populism, top leader says, calling AmFest scenes are ‘encouraging’
The future of the conservative movement rests on the ability of candidates and activists to embrace the best tenets of populism while addressing issues that are uncomfortable in "establishment Washington,"...
By Fox News · Fox News
The future of the conservative movement rests on the ability of candidates and activists to embrace the best tenets of populism while addressing issues that are uncomfortable in "establishment Washington," the leader of one of America’s oldest conservative policy groups told Fox News Digital. Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts, in Phoenix for the first AmericaFest following the murder of Charlie Kirk, said that despite a wave of recent losses for conservatives, there is great hope for the future. The event was packed with thousands of conservatives from around the nation. " I was expecting to be really encouraged, and I am," Roberts said of people he has engaged with at AmericaFest. "There's a lot of passion and encouragement in that room. And I think we have to keep in mind, moving on to a second point, that you have to ignore sort of the naysayers and the doomsayers about conservative politicians losing the midterms." He said that despite bad press and wipeouts for the right in Virginia, New Jersey, Florida and Pennsylvania, conservatives "ought to be more optimistic" after what he called a great first year of the Trump-Vance administration and House Speaker Mike Johnson , R-La., working together. VIVEK RAMASWAMY CRITICIZES POCKETS OF 'ONLINE RIGHT' FIXATED ON HERITAGE IN TURNING POINT ADDRESS "What we've got to do for 2026 is articulate to the American people -- starting with this crowd here at AmFest -- what those policy priorities need to be; not just for the short term but for the long term and Heritage certainly is in the middle of that conversation." To keep conservatism at the fore in 2026, given recent setbacks, conservatives must run on an "aspirational vision" he said was lacking in several 2025 races – while noting Jack Ciattarelli’s failed bid for governor of New Jersey bid as one of the better-run campaigns. Looking to the new year, Roberts said Heritage is interested in seeing policymakers asking those uncomfortable questions inside the Bel…