“There is a linkage right now between him personally and those things that we care about…de-linking those takes time,” Mr. Hutchinson said Tuesday at The Future of Everything Festival. “We have to show that we are the party of the future and not the last election. That is critical for us.”

The Republican governor said that the party should focus on issues that affect people’s everyday lives, instead of harsh talk…

Mr. Hutchinson said he is considering a run for president in 2024, but said he is focusing on this year’s midterm elections in November. He won re-election in 2018 and is unable to run for governor again in this year because of term limits.

“I am concerned about the direction of our country,” Mr. Hutchinson said. “We’re laying the foundation and testing the waters for 2024, but we first have to get through this and we will make the decision at the right time for the future.”