California Republicans are at a crossroads. We need to take
a good look in the mirror and be honest with ourselves. We have many values and
traits as Republicans that make us attractive to voters. From being seen as
strong leaders on job creation and fiscal responsibility to understanding the
importance of protecting bedrock constitutional, individual and natural rights,
we have a value set and message to voters that can win in California again. But
first, we need a California Republican Party that is committed to giving our
candidates the tools and resources to engage in hand-to-hand “political combat”
and win against our increasingly leftist Democrat adversaries.
I’m seeking the support of California Republican Party delegates to represent the party as its next Vice Chair, from the northern region of our great state.
Many in the media are pushing a narrative that our values are the problem in the hope that our party will abandon those very core principles that we know are critical to California’s future and our electoral success. Many on the left and in the media attack our values as the culprit for losing campaigns when our candidates are outspent sometimes by ridiculous amounts and rely on a campaign infrastructure that is obsolete and in need of renovation and innovation.
The next leadership of the California Republican Party needs to get back to the fundamentals of helping qualified candidates win elections. That means emphasizing what can be controlled and doing it well including:
1.Raising resources to help our candidates take their message to the voters and compete more effectively with their Democrat opponents who are funded heavily by government labor unions and special interests.
2.Reaching into new communities that are “growth markets” for new GOP candidates, voters, donors and volunteers. We aren’t going to win over voters in new, growing communities if we aren’t willing to invest the time to build deeper, personal bonds. We must communicate at the grassroots level to build credibility, not just create a new “outreach” plan that makes everybody feel good but accomplishes little. Our communications efforts need to emphasize new, cost-effective technologies to help our candidates better reach voters in those “growth markets.”
3.Recruit and equip a new generation of candidates who reflect the communities they seek to represent and share our Republican values. We must strengthen our candidate campaign schools and get those candidates ready to face the Democrat attack machine. Every community in California contains conservative leaders; our job is to find them and nurture them.
The California Republican Party is a home in need of renovation. There is no need to disturb the foundation of its core conservative values, but it’s time to add on a few new rooms for what can and should be a growing family.
A critical element of the party’s success will be for party activists and candidates to step outside their comfort zones in a number of ways. For one, we must adopt the best possible technology now. The party can learn from the successes of our opposition’s voter contact and outreach mechanics so we can spread our message more effectively. This element of our plan is particularly critical to reaching out and engaging Millenial-generation voters.
Republicans also need to increase their engagement in their communities beyond politics – such as volunteering in their communities in non-Republican settings, nonprofit groups, the arts, social service organizations, and neighborhood associations. It is in these time honored, grass roots, locally-based apolitical organizations where relationships are formed, leadership opportunities emerge, and volunteers get an opportunity to gain the trust of their neighbors. There is no better way for Republicans to expand their circles of influence than by leaving their computers, engaging with their neighbors in person and becoming a part of their community.
The California Republican Party has the basic tools it needs to excel. We have great volunteers and committed supporters ready to compete and win. We have an electorate yearning for better leadership than the failed tax-and-spend Democrat crew in Sacramento who are the epitome of what people despise in government but have only been hearing one side of the argument. We, as Republicans, need leadership that will put the party back on firm financial footing with an improved professional operation that is focused on changing those dynamics.
As I watched the many television documentaries on President’s Day about President Lincoln, I was reminded of his belief that even in the toughest times you must stand and fight for what is right. We must look to our first Republican President and our nation’s greatest leader for the inspiration to bring our state and nation forward behind the conservative policies and values that we know will make life better for our fellow citizens. Our party must once again provide support and tools for our elected leaders and candidates who will be attacked by the Democrats for doing what is right.
Can we regain that once bright promise for California? Pulling together, I know that we can. I ask for your support at the California Republican Party Convention and hope you will go to my website to get to know more about me and to get involved with my campaign. Thank you.
A short video regarding some of Harmeet’s goals as CRP Vice Chair
About the Author: Harmeet K. Dhillon is the Chairman of the San Francisco Republican Party and candidate for California Republican Party Vice Chairman. If you would like to support her campiagn please go to http://www.dhillonforcrp.com/index.html. On March 2nd (tommorow) she is holding an event in Sacramento for supporters of her campaign.
Campaign site: http://www.dhillonforcrp.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dhillonforcrp
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HKD4CRPVC
