The Republican primary wild card that likely has Trump spooked

No Republican candidate chasing the party's 2024 nomination has more at stake than four-time indictee Donald Trump. His fate (and whether he ever sees the inside of a jail cell) could very likely depend on whether he manages to recapture the White House in November.

For Trump, every unexpected twist of the electoral cycle amps up the anxiety to excruciating levels. He needs to wrap up the GOP nomination quickly—hopefully by March, before he gets into the thick of his legal battles.

But one of the dangers lurking for Trump and fellow Republican candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is entirely out of their control, despite both campaigns having poured oodles of money into their ground games and GOTV operations in the early states.