The 2016 election signaled a potential shift in conservatism, but the party remains divided on its meaning. This piece explores three facets of Republican ideology—symbolic, operational, and conceptual—and analyzes how they differ among voters based on their support for Trump.

Research Design: Quantitative analysis using survey data from various sources during key campaign periods.

Findings:

* Voters who backed Trump consistently show a different profile compared to those who supported him only in the general election or never did.

* Never Trump supporters, despite being less symbolically and operationally conservative on average, demonstrate a stronger grasp of articulating traditional conservatism.

* Core Trump supporters largely prioritize issues over ideological coherence but remain resistant to explicit definitions proposed by other groups.

Implications:

These results highlight the fragmentation within American conservatism. The Republican Party is not monolithically embracing or rejecting Trumpism; instead, different factions exhibit distinct ideological leanings and articulations. This divergence challenges simplistic narratives about political change.