OPINION:
The new chair of the Republican National Committee must be bold. Now is not the time to maintain the status quo.
First, the RNC must join with parties in battleground states to protect the vote in 2024. Instead of waiting until after the November election, they need to seek court orders now to force local election officials to uphold the law.
In 2020, election officials in the largest counties in Wisconsin ignored state statutes. They distributed absentee ballots in public places like parks, even though state law is clear that voters must request an absentee ballot in written form before an official can provide them with one. Furthermore, state law is also clear that the voter must fill out his or her name and address, and sign the envelope of the absentee ballot.
Four years ago, election officials filled in the addresses of many voters. These accommodations were justified by invoking COVID-19, even though it was contrary to state law.
Party officials should go to court in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan and other key states to ensure that local officials follow the law. Trying to correct voting problems after Election Day is like spitting in the ocean. It will not work.
Second, build a grassroots army of volunteers to connect with persuadable voters. Plenty of Americans love their country and want to do something to protect it. Recruit them to knock on doors, make phone calls, post on social media, and speak out to reach undecided voters about what is at stake in the 2024 elections.
Voters are likely to be overwhelmed by ads on television and their devices. Personal contact with a neighbor can really make a difference. The party should be leading the charge now to set up and equip such a team. Once voters come our way, we should lock in their ballot through early voting. The new chair must also develop an aggressive plan to recruit, train and deploy volunteer poll-watchers.
Democrats have far more money than Republicans right now. The RNC needs to strategically target its resources for the handful of places that will elect the next president of the United States. For example, the last two presidential elections in Wisconsin have been decided by less than 25,000 votes. The latest polls have a tie between President Biden and former President Donald Trump. Mr. Trump has a slight lead with third-party candidates on the ballot.
In addition to targeting swing states for the presidential election, the RNC should work with other groups to target competitive congressional districts to hold the Republican majority in the House. When speaking at the California Republican Party convention in 2020, I reminded them that the best thing they could do to help then-President Trump was win back several key House districts to stop then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi from attacking the president and his team. The RNC needs to help organize the grassroots in non-swing states and get them to focus on key House seats.
Similarly, Republicans must be smart about working to elect great candidates in competitive Senate races to regain the majority and move conservative causes forward. When I faced a massive recall election as governor of Wisconsin, volunteers from Illinois and other surrounding states came to help us knock on doors, make phone calls and reach voters. The party needs to mobilize volunteers to help where they have the greatest impact.
The RNC needs to work with state parties to reach nontraditional voters. Mr. Trump made significant inroads with Black and Hispanic voters. Even reducing the margins can make a difference in tight elections. This is particularly true with younger voters. More than any other group, they were the ones who turned a predicted red wave into a fizzle in recent elections.
Today, younger voters are concerned about the economy. They blame the incumbent for problems paying their bills. We need to remind them how much better things were before President Biden and how they can be great again with the right leaders and policies. Reaching these voters also has long-term positive impact.
The new RNC chair must be willing to push back against the establishment in Washington, particularly in Congress. The base is understandably upset with the inability to get things done. The latest setback in the House undermines the need to elect more reliable Republicans. The RNC chair should be willing to call people out.
Finally, the new leader of the national party must be able to raise money from those motivated by this bold agenda. Low-dollar donors can give online or via email, direct mail, or even from being asked by fellow volunteers. Higher-dollar donors should be motivated by a winning plan. The key to success, however, is a bold plan of action.
• Scott Walker is president of Young America’s Foundation and served as the 45th governor of Wisconsin.
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