Politics & Perspective
Winning with Women
Republican Recruitment is Breaking Records in 2020 by SUSAN BROOKS Recently, Republican talk show host Meghan That plan started with changing the way our McCain was ridiculed in the New York Times for Party recruited candidates. With help from my fellow disrupting her colleagues’ liberal tirades with her Members of Congress serving as Recruitment Captains, conservative counterpoints on The View. we went out looking for candidates who uniquely fit Arizona Senator Martha McSally, the first female their district, reflect the diversity of America, and can fighter pilot to fly in combat, was described as win competitive races. We didn’t stop because one “unbecoming” and a “punk” for dismissive remarks person announced they were running. We kept looking she made to a CNN reporter’s for the best candidates in persistent questioning. these districts to win in Maine Senator Susan November. Our Recruitment Collins was attacked by the Captains prioritized creating left for her vote to confirm a Republican conference that Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the better reflects our diverse Supreme Court. national Republican Party. Democrats and liberal The sacrifices of running cable news talking heads for Congress are real. We are fundamentally oppose the asking Americans to leave notion of conservative women their families, communities, who have values different and careers to spend hours than their own, women upon hours fundraising, who are pro-life, support getting out their message, and the Second Amendment, or driving all over their district champion something other meeting voters. than “Women’s Issues”. The sacrifices vary Unfortunately, the last depending on the woman and election did nothing but her priorities, but once these reinforce this narrative. In As a Party we should celebrate women realized the positive 2018, 102 women were impact they could make in their the diversity of our recruited elected to the U.S. House of communities and country by Representatives — a record. candidates, but we must also serving in Congress, the results Only 13 of those women were have been amazing support their campaigns to Republican. With support from get these amazing candidates Democrats are actively Chairman Tom Emmer and working to make conservative others like Congresswoman across the finish line on women extinct, and as one Elise Stefanik, whose Election Day. of the few GOP women left leadership PAC, Elevatein the House Republican PAC, is designed to help elect conference, I am taking it Republican women, we are personally. After suffering a 41-seat loss last cycle, I putting ourselves in a position to elect more Republican chose to step up and serve as the recruitment chair of women to the House of Representatives. A record 200 the National Republican Congressional Committee in women have filed to run for the House this cycle which Washington, D.C. where I’ve committed to remaking demolishes the previous record. our Party in a way more reflective of our diverse country Now, more than ever before, Republican women are and values. stepping up and saying, “I’m in.” 4
RIPON FORUM February 2020
