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Race has emerged as a central issue in the 2024 presidential contest as the GOP's primary field features five candidates of color. That's the GOP's most racially diverse presidential class ever. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez joined the race Thursday. Suarez is of Cuban descent and highlights his status as the only Hispanic in the contest. In most cases, the diverse Republican candidates downplay the significance of their racial heritage. They also oppose policies around policing, voting rights and education designed to benefit disadvantaged communities and combat structural racism. The GOP's increasingly diverse leadership is backed by evolving politics on issues such as immigration and suggests the party might have an opportunity to widen its appeal.

Few have navigated the turbulent politics of the Trump era like Nikki Haley. She once vowed not to step in the way if former President Donald Trump ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. But on Wednesday, she will become the first major Republican candidate to enter the race against him.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis may be months away from publicly declaring his presidential intentions, but his potential rivals aren't holding back. A half dozen high-profile Republican White House prospects have begun courting top political operatives in states like New Hampshire and Iowa. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump, the only announced candidate so far, is launching regular attacks against DeSantis while locking down key staff and endorsements in South Carolina.

Republican candidates have given wildly differing responses to South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham's plan to ban abortion nationwide at 15 weeks. A Republican Senate challenger in Colorado describes the proposed ban as "reckless." GOP Senate contenders in Georgia and Arizona have quickly pledged their support. And in Pennsylvania and Nevada, Republican Senate nominees are avoiding taking firm positions. The explosive issue threatens to upend the GOP's overwhelming political advantages just eight weeks before Election Day. Democrats have been quick to point to the measure to warn that handing control of Congress to Republicans could lead to a broader erosion of rights.