EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
’BACK TO BASICS’ FOR THE CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY
by Stephen Frank
’BACK TO BASICS’ FOR THE CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY
by Stephen Frank
INTRODUCTION: For several
years the Republican Party in California has been in decline, as evidenced by
the decline in voter registration. Voter registration statistics show the
Decline to State registrations have exceeded Republican registration for the
first time. Back to Basics is a framework designed to start the discussion on
identifying what needs to occur with ‘The Team’ (Legislature, donors and
grassroots) to reestablish the Republican Party’s relevance again in
California. To win elections, The Team must all be at the table together
developing policy and get out the vote strategies.
years the Republican Party in California has been in decline, as evidenced by
the decline in voter registration. Voter registration statistics show the
Decline to State registrations have exceeded Republican registration for the
first time. Back to Basics is a framework designed to start the discussion on
identifying what needs to occur with ‘The Team’ (Legislature, donors and
grassroots) to reestablish the Republican Party’s relevance again in
California. To win elections, The Team must all be at the table together
developing policy and get out the vote strategies.
TRENDS: In the primary on
June 5, 2018 there were 21 Assembly seats, 9 Congressional and 6 State Senate
seats with no Republican representation on the ballot. This is unacceptable and
must be reversed. The good news is that the grassroots and donors are still looking
to the Party for leadership. Yet they want to be heard, as part of The Team in
identifying candidates for every seat to end the vote depression.
June 5, 2018 there were 21 Assembly seats, 9 Congressional and 6 State Senate
seats with no Republican representation on the ballot. This is unacceptable and
must be reversed. The good news is that the grassroots and donors are still looking
to the Party for leadership. Yet they want to be heard, as part of The Team in
identifying candidates for every seat to end the vote depression.
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COALITIONS: Our party needs
to expand its base and its activists and reestablish its coalitions who have
lost confidence in us over the past decade. We must engage coalitions and
community groups and challenge them to again become involved. We need to
undertake a coordinated and structured approach with them to grow the group,
create activist opportunities and a fund-raising capacity, within the
community.
to expand its base and its activists and reestablish its coalitions who have
lost confidence in us over the past decade. We must engage coalitions and
community groups and challenge them to again become involved. We need to
undertake a coordinated and structured approach with them to grow the group,
create activist opportunities and a fund-raising capacity, within the
community.
FINANCING: CRP financing
has for years relied on a single source and major donors. We need to work in
conjunction with the legislative caucuses to raise money which they need to
control in the support of candidates. This opens the opportunity for joint fund
raisers for County Committees, in conjunction with the Caucuses and CRP. This
helps build the local finances of Committees and to bring big name office
holders or personalities to our efforts.
has for years relied on a single source and major donors. We need to work in
conjunction with the legislative caucuses to raise money which they need to
control in the support of candidates. This opens the opportunity for joint fund
raisers for County Committees, in conjunction with the Caucuses and CRP. This
helps build the local finances of Committees and to bring big name office
holders or personalities to our efforts.
VOLUNTEER GOUPS—INSIDE AND OUTISDE THE PARTY: Volunteer groups
are the foundation of the Republican Party and we need to promote them, help
them grow and work with their leadership. The CRP Volunteers Club committee
needs to be the focal point of growth and leadership training, not just a
by-law enforcement committee. This needs to be an activist activity, showing
the base of the Party are the people at the grassroots.
are the foundation of the Republican Party and we need to promote them, help
them grow and work with their leadership. The CRP Volunteers Club committee
needs to be the focal point of growth and leadership training, not just a
by-law enforcement committee. This needs to be an activist activity, showing
the base of the Party are the people at the grassroots.
VOTER REGISTRATION: The CRP
needs to stabilize its voter registration framework to halt the registration
fall. We need a framework of principles along with appropriately allocated
resources to fulfill this very important strategic requirement. Amongst other
principles discussed in the Back to Basics paper we must:
needs to stabilize its voter registration framework to halt the registration
fall. We need a framework of principles along with appropriately allocated
resources to fulfill this very important strategic requirement. Amongst other
principles discussed in the Back to Basics paper we must:
·
Re-Introduce the bounty system, the removal of
which is the reason we have so many seats in trouble.
Re-Introduce the bounty system, the removal of
which is the reason we have so many seats in trouble.
·
Ensure ‘The Team’ works together to push voters
into the GOP column in 2020 by increasing voter registration, developing
dynamic volunteer training, increasing the number of hands-on deck raising
funds, and introduce important ballot measures.
Ensure ‘The Team’ works together to push voters
into the GOP column in 2020 by increasing voter registration, developing
dynamic volunteer training, increasing the number of hands-on deck raising
funds, and introduce important ballot measures.
COMMUNICATIONS: We need to
be aggressive in our messaging using talk radio, newspaper, TV interview,
social media along with forum to promote our values, principles and legislation
at the state and federal level. We must also be aggressive in our responses to
issues of the day through active use of press releases and op-eds.
be aggressive in our messaging using talk radio, newspaper, TV interview,
social media along with forum to promote our values, principles and legislation
at the state and federal level. We must also be aggressive in our responses to
issues of the day through active use of press releases and op-eds.
CLOSING
Back to Basics is primarily a starting point for discussion on a
framework to reinvigorate the Republican Party in California in preparation for
elections in 2020. Its principle focus is on The Team (legislature, donors and
grassroots) that must come to the table as equal investors in the CRP going
forward, to ensure we identify quality candidates and provide the them the
resources (people and money) to make them successful.
framework to reinvigorate the Republican Party in California in preparation for
elections in 2020. Its principle focus is on The Team (legislature, donors and
grassroots) that must come to the table as equal investors in the CRP going
forward, to ensure we identify quality candidates and provide the them the
resources (people and money) to make them successful.