Inspired by Fear, Loathing, and Gumbo On the Campaign Trail '72, an excellent timeline by Drew...
What if Barry Goldwater, Jr., then a Republican congressman from California, ran for Governor of California in OTL 1974? He would be up against Jerry Brown, so if he defeated him, that would be a pretty big butterfly right there.
I imagine he could win - if he could just play off Ronald Reagan's popularity as governor, and get the retiring incumbent to campaign for him, it could be very easy, though I can't see a Goldwater '74 landslide.
So how would he do as Governor? What would happen to Jerry Brown? I don't think he would run for the GOP nomination in 1976 if Reagan ran. So, assuming he's re-elected in 1978 and Jimmy Carter is elected POTUS in 1976, would he run for president in 1980? And what if he doesn't run, or loses in the GOP primaries?
What if Barry Goldwater, Jr., then a Republican congressman from California, ran for Governor of California in OTL 1974? He would be up against Jerry Brown, so if he defeated him, that would be a pretty big butterfly right there.
I imagine he could win - if he could just play off Ronald Reagan's popularity as governor, and get the retiring incumbent to campaign for him, it could be very easy, though I can't see a Goldwater '74 landslide.
So how would he do as Governor? What would happen to Jerry Brown? I don't think he would run for the GOP nomination in 1976 if Reagan ran. So, assuming he's re-elected in 1978 and Jimmy Carter is elected POTUS in 1976, would he run for president in 1980? And what if he doesn't run, or loses in the GOP primaries?