Conservatives are generally hierarchical pussies. Whoever is high ranking and assertive about being the new leader will be the new leader and everybody will line up to be his footrest. Even without a decent choice, they will push somebody into the position even if they’re bland garbage. Source: the shit show that was them searching for a House Speaker and settling for Mike Johnson.

The ones with the balls to break away from the party only did so to follow trump, and they now control the party because eventually the cowards got in line like good little followers. I think that trump losing this time may have convinced enough to steer the party back to a less extreme position, but his win taught them that the country is ready for full on christofascism, and there’s nothing to be gained from the inevitable failure that would be an attempt to fracture/mutiny the party. They’re more evil than dumb.