Today, former Assemblyman Travis Allen and 2018 gubernatorial candidate laid out the best path for the future of the California Republican Party. Two other candidates are running: Steve Frank and David Hadley.
Hadley, a former Assemblyman, has fundraising prowess, and Steve Frank looks to be a formidable tactician with knowledge of the operations of the California Republican Party. But Allen brings an energy to what is a dying organization. More importantly, Allen displays the sort of Shawn Steel-like courageous leadership and visions for a grass roots movement. From Allen’s linked article on FlashReport:
It is time for that to end. It is time for a Republican Revolution in California. It’s time that the Republican Party stands for our values, our ideals, and yes even supports our Republican President. It’s time for California Republicans to boldly declare our values and stop rationalizing the plainly visible failures of the California Democrats. It’s time for the Republican Party to lead once again.
To win, the Republican Party must start registering Republicans voters statewide again. From community gatherings to grocery stores to immigration ceremonies, statewide voter registration must be the primary mission of the Republican Party and the cornerstone of the revitalization of Republican organizations. Street by street precinct operations must be built from the ground up, with everyday Californians recruited to protect their own neighborhoods from the ravages of Democrat machine politicians. A statewide grassroots army, drawn from 5 million California Republicans and millions more conservative minded independents, must be systematically organized, funded, and engaged.
This isn’t a pipe dream. Republicans were beaten badly in 2018 because Democrats outhustled us. Trump wasn’t “too toxic,” conservatism isn’t out of style, and Californians are not a bunch of socialists. California Democrats stand for something, they move mountains to get their voters to the polls, and they legislate like they are about to lose the super majority they have. Republicans don’t do any of those things.
Hadley would be a great fundraising chair and Frank would make an excellent operations chief, but Travis Allen has the vision, strategy, and energy to lead our party back to winning some elections.