If Republicans decide they are tired of losing elections they should be winning, Herschel Walker’s loss to Raphael Warnock in Georgia’s Senate runoff election should mark the definitive and unequivocal end of the Trump era.

Republicans can write that obituary in any number of ways. After completing their swearing in ceremonies in 2023, in which they will pledge to “defend the Constitution of the United States,” House Republicans could pass a resolution saying they really mean it and disapprove of former President Donald Trump for posting a call on social media Saturday for “termination” of the Constitution. Or Republicans could individually refuse to endorse a nominee who rejects the oath they just took. Or they could tell Trump now to drop out of the presidential race. 

Regardless of how they say it, if Republicans don’t write Trump’s obituary today, Trump will surely write theirs tomorrow — as he has the past three election cycles.