If Donald Trump wins, these are the Republicans he'll lean on to pass his priorities

If Donald Trump is reelected to a second term in the White House , he would return to Washington with very different relationships than when he left the nation's capital in 2021 .

At the end of his first term, his standing among GOP lawmakers was precarious.

Nearly four years later , Trump has defied those odds in a remarkable comeback.

He has consolidated his power in the GOP , replacing Republican National Committee leaders with allies loyal to him.

Trump 's closest allies in the Senate have been defenders of his brand of conservative populism.

Sen. Marco Rubio underwent a years -long transition from a Trump skeptic (and 2016 presidential primary opponent) to MAGA acolyte.

Three out of four of Trump 's finalists for his vice presidential pick served in the U.S. Senate .

Sen. Jon Tester , D-Mont. , said he "secured billions for Trump 's border wall" Rep. Jared Golden predicted in an op-ed that Trump will win the election and said: "I'm OK with that." A Trump victory would also open the door to other dealmaking with Democrats .

After all, any Democratic lawmakers representing purple or red districts or states would likely expect to face political pressure back home.