Heritage chief urges fusion of populism as conservatives map 2026 at AmFest
Roberts says a 'good fusion' of populist energy and policy pragmatism is essential despite recent losses, as conservatives outline long-term priorities.
PHOENIX — Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts told Fox News Digital at AmericaFest in Phoenix that the future of the conservative movement rests on embracing a fusion of populism with policies that address issues deemed uncomfortable in establishment Washington. The event, the first AmericaFest since the murder of Charlie Kirk, drew thousands of conservatives from across the country. Roberts said he was encouraged by the energy he encountered and urged attendees not to be deterred by negative coverage of midterm results.
He noted a string of setbacks in Virginia, New Jersey, Florida and Pennsylvania but argued that conservatives ought to be more optimistic considering what he described as a strong start for the Trump-Vance administration and for House Speaker Mike Johnson’s leadership. “There’s a lot of passion and encouragement in that room,” Roberts said. “There’s a lot of work to do, and we have to ignore the naysayers and the doomsayers about conservative politicians losing the midterms.”
Roberts outlined a roadmap for 2026 centered on an “aspirational vision” that he said has been missing in some 2025 races. He pointed to campaigns such as New Jersey gubernatorial hopeful Jack Ciattarelli’s as a model for organizing and message discipline, arguing that conservatives must articulate long-term priorities beyond short-term political wins. He said Heritage aims to drive policy debate on issues such as the future of the American family, whether workplaces can honor dignity as well as paychecks, and broader questions about what it means to be American.
Looking ahead, Roberts said Heritage plans to emphasize family, the future of free enterprise, national security and citizenship in its 2026 agenda. He said Heritage Action for America, the think tank’s advocacy and campaigns arm, will focus on places where messages can resonate with voters and where candidates can take those ideas into races. “Whoever the standard-bearers for conservatism are in 2028, 2032, 2036, their policy ideas will sound a lot like Trump’s, but they will bring their own imprint,” he said. “Those of us who focus on ideas and policy for a living need to do our jobs zealously well to keep offering not just the long-standing policy ideas, but some innovative ones as well.”
As the party looks toward the next presidential cycle, Tim Scott, the South Carolina senator and Republican figure, framed the broader challenge for Republicans as they seek to grow the Senate majority in 2026. In remarks framed for MAGA voters, Scott emphasized that the party should address more than immigration policy in a vacuum and asked what the future holds for assimilation and national identity. “What’s the future, not just of immigration policy, but how can we assimilate the highest percentage of foreign-born population we’ve had in modern American history? This is important for all of us if, in fact, we’re going to have a healthy society,” Scott said. He added that if establishment Washington focuses on sidebar issues, the midterms could be a disaster. “They have to talk about what the American people are asking, and they actually have to offer policy solutions where I happen to think Heritage has some good things to say.”
Roberts also looked beyond 2026, noting that in 2028 Trump would be term-limited and that a new conservative leader would need to rise. “The best way for conservatives to move forward is to embrace a good fusion of the best elements of populism,” he said. He framed the longer arc as one in which the movement blends populist energy with principled policy foundations, a balance he described as essential to remaining relevant in a changing political landscape.
Setting the stage for 2025 and beyond, Roberts said conservatives must continue to wrestle with how to apply longstanding principles—such as limiting the administrative state—while pursuing a broader, aspirational message that speaks to everyday American concerns. “Whoever the standard-bearers are for conservatism in 2028, 2032, 2036, their policy ideas are going to sound a lot like Trump’s, but they will bear their own imprint,” he said. “Those of us who focus on ideas and policy for a living need to do our jobs zealously well to keep offering not just the long-standing policy ideas, but some innovative ones as well.”
Heritage’s future work, Roberts added, will center on family policy, free enterprise, national security and citizenship, with an emphasis on translating those themes into messages for voters through Heritage Action for America. The aim, he said, is to ensure conservatives present a coherent, long-term plan that resonates with the public while remaining faithful to core conservative principles.
