What they are saying about the RSLC

1 What they’re saying about the Republican State Leadership Committee

Nick Confessore .@The__RGA & @RSLC duo arguably country’s most successful pol operation in generation. Profound impact on governance: nyti.ms/1hdekNu

A National Strategy Funds State Political Monopolies The New York Times “In early 2010, a little-known group called the Republican State Leadership Committee … Republicans could do more than just flip a few state legislatures. They could use their new statehouse majorities to build a firewall in the House of Representatives…Only when the dust from the 2010 elections settled did the full scale of the Republicans’ success become clear….Republicans controlled 25 legislatures around the country, up from 14…”

Republicans Replay 2010 Strategy at State Level The New York Times “..The stakes in the country’s statehouses are arguably higher than those in the battle for control of the , which has consumed most of the media coverage and money from both parties this year. Washington is likely to remain gridlocked regardless of which party wins control of the Senate in November, but the success of Republican governors this fall, along with retention of Republican majorities in dozens of state legislatures, would cement the sweeping changes on economic and social issues that have been implemented in state capitals across the country... It is not only in governors’ races where Republicans are building an advantage: The Republican State Leadership Committee, a Washington-based group that supports the party’s candidates for state offices, is also well ahead of its 2010 fund-raising pace. Matt Walter, the committee’s president, said it had raised more than $24 million through June, close to twice as much as it had raised by the same point in the 2010 election cycle, when his party took control of 21 state legislative bodies….“It’s the legislature and other down-ticket races — and courts — that really give governors power, power,” Mr. Walter said.

What they’re saying about Republican legislators

GOP Poised to Control More State Legislatures The Wall Street Journal “Four years after Republicans grabbed their largest number of legislative seats since the Great Depression, the party is positioned to gain House and Senate majorities in more states, putting energy regulation, social issues and taxes in play even as Washington remains gridlocked…”Most of the key issues are taking place at the state level, and you’ll continue to see a clear course of action on the Republican side,” said Bill McCollum, chairman of the Republican State Leadership Committee and a former congressman and attorney general…

2 GOP groups working for Republican control of Kentucky House Lexington Herald -Leader “Two national groups dedicated to electing Republican state legislators have their sights set on the Kentucky House. The GOP has a great shot to take control of the Kentucky House for the first time since 1921, officials with the Republican Legislative Campaign Committee and the Republican State Leadership Committee said Thursday in a telephone conference call from their national meeting in Colorado. Pennsylvania House Speaker Sam Smith said Kentucky is one of the “Sweet 16” targets the RLCC has identified as opportunities to flip legislative control. Republicans now control 60 of 99 legislative chambers in the country…”

National GOP group targets Nevada Assembly, Senate Ralston Reports “A national GOP group announced today that it is targeting the Nevada Assembly and Senate as part of a small universe of legislative bodies to switch to Republican leadership. The Republican Legislative Campaign Committee declared that the Assembly and Senate are part of its “Sweet 16 Targets” for flipping legislative control.”

GOP groups target Democrats’ House supermajority Associated Press “The Republican Legislative Campaign Committee and the Republican State Leadership Committee are holding a conference in Colorado this week, and say they’re planning to highlight what they describe as top Illinois Democrats “dragging down their party” in an effort to erode that party’s control of the state House…RSLC President Matt Walter said during a conference call Thursday afternoon that examples of evidence of withering Democratic support include “abysmal” approval ratings for Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn and the political apparatus in the Democratic stronghold of Cook County that he says is “fading in some degree.”

Republicans eye state legislature gains in November The Washington Examiner “…In Kentucky, Republicans are keeping their fingers crossed about another potential win. Democrats have controlled the Kentucky House of Representatives since the 1920s, and a Republican victory would be tricky. That said, national Republicans have an eye on the state, and may invest in trying to flip the chamber. Walter said his group is mulling a number of possible ways to play in the race, including an independent expenditure…The New Mexico House is also on national Republicans’ radar. Democrats have held it since the 1950s, but Republicans have chipped away at their majority over the last few cycles. And, per the Republican State Leadership Committee’s political director, Justin Richards, having Gov. Susana Martinez at the top of the ticket in November may give down-ballot Republicans the boost they need to win three seats and flip the chamber…”

Republicans Poised For Major State-Level Gains in November Breitbart News “If President Obama’s poll numbers remain underwater, Republicans are poised to capture control of several state legislatures this fall. The GOP could capture as many as 8 state legislative chambers in November and pick up seats across the country. “Republicans are poised to gain control of chambers in blue states and purple states across the country,” said John Loe, spokesman of the Republican Legislative Campaign Committee.

3 Study: Citizens United elected more Republicans The Washington Post The Republican State Leadership Committee raised about $30 million in 2010 through its RedMap program, targeting states such as Colorado, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin. The RSLC spent about $1 million each in Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, all of which swung to Republican control after 2010….The 2010 midterm elections were a huge boost to Republicans nationally, and at the state level. Republicans won control of 53 state legislative chambers that year, 20 more than they controlled before Election Day. Just 15 Republican state legislators lost reelection bids that year, compared with 492 Democrats who found themselves out of jobs.

Midterms Give Parties Chance for Sweeping Control of States The New York Times “Republicans now control 59 of the 99 partisan legislative chambers, and have complete political control — both legislative houses and the governor’s mansion — in 23 states, while Democrats control 13. The total number of states ruled by a single political party, 36, is the highest in six decades…Officials from both parties say there are two states that the Republicans might be able to add to the list of places where they enjoy complete control — Iowa and Arkansas…Matt Walter, president of the Republican State Leadership Committee, which is spearheading the statehouse efforts, said, “The pattern is crystal-clear at this point, and Wisconsin is the best example of it: That ability to drive your agenda when you are completely in control of state government will absolutely continue to play out.” Mr. Walter said even picking up a house in a divided state was critical at a time when both parties are so ambitious. “The ability to restrain the other side from advancing their agenda very often comes down to a couple of seats in one chamber,” he said.

What they’re saying about Republican lieutenant governors

GOP Lieutenant Governors to descend on Milwaukee Wisconsin Reporter “Milwaukee and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch will play host to a gathering of Republican lieutenant governors and second- in-command candidates beginning Sunday. The session, organized by the Republican State Leadership Committee and its Republican Lieutenant Governors Association, runs from Sunday through Wednesday morning at undisclosed locations in Milwaukee, and is expected to be the “largest gathering of Republican lieutenant governors in history… “Wisconsin is the model for the nation in how you take a blue state with entrenched special interests (public sector unions), a dismal jobs record and a deficit budget and turn it all around without raising taxes,” [RSLC spokeswoman Jill] Bader said.

New web ads tout Republican ‘ticket’ of Sandoval and Hutchison Las Vegas Review-Journal “Mark Hutchison fought Obamacare and is part of a team that keeps Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid up at night! That’s the message of the very first Internet ads deployed in the country by the Republican Lieutenant Governors Association, a group affiliated with the Republican State Leadership Committee. They’re set to start appearing on computer screens today in Nevada…”

4 Scott’s Hispanic sidekick does more than tick a box The Tampa Tribune “…Scott, making history all over the place, appointed the first Hispanic lieutenant governor to succeed Florida’s first black female lieutenant governor, a recruiting coup conventional wisdom says could blunt the eventual Democratic nominee’s advantage in deep blue, heavily Hispanic…”

Lieutenant governors knock D.C. Republicans Politico “Republican lieutenant governors have a message for their GOP counterparts in Washington: Figure out what you stand for, and start getting things done. In a joint interview with POLITICO, six Republican lieutenant governors contrasted the culture of gridlock in Congress with what the GOP is doing in the states, saying that in order to win, the Republican Party needs to position itself as the party that offers real-life solutions for voters…”

What they’re saying about Republican secretaries of state

How Republicans Rig the Game Rolling Stone “This tilting of the electoral playing field was the result of a sophisticated campaign coordinated at the highest levels of Republican politics through a group called the Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC)… On election night in 2010, propelled by Tea Party anger and the RSLC’s millions, the GOP seized full-party control of 21 state governments – up from nine the previous year and enough to put the party in charge of redistricting 173 House seats…”

The Democrats’ Strategy The Daily Beast “Over the last several years, secretary of state offices have taken on a new and more controversial role as partisan legislatures pushed changes to election laws and secretaries of state were charged with making decisions on everything from ballot language to voter eligibility to voting hours and crucial calls in contested elections. The decisions ultimately affect not only who votes in elections, but often who wins them… “Republicans want to make it easier to vote but harder to cheat,” said Jill Bader, spokeswoman for the Republican State Leadership Committee, a Republican-led 527 group that spent more than $30 million in 2012 on down-ballot races like secretary of state positions. “We want everybody to come and vote, but we want to make sure we have secure elections.” Bader pointed to Republicans’ new registration site as evidence of the party’s commitment to expanding the vote and said the DNC is just catching up to where Republicans have been for years—focusing on state-level contests: “I am not at all surprised to see looking at what we’ve known for a long time, which is that real results come in the states.”

In states, parties put a new focus on the vote-counters The Washington Post “Another group, the Republican Secretaries of State Committee, will run its own independent campaigns aimed at keeping GOP officials in top elections offices; that group is being run out of the long-established Republican State Leadership Committee. ‘There seems to be renewed interest on Secretaries races with all these new PACs,” Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp (R), who chairs the RSSC, said in an interview. “It’s a political race, and this year will be no different. I think there’s a lot more focus on our races now than there ever has been.’

5 Wisconsin Secretary of State Candidate Julian Bradley featured as candidate to watch Wisconsin Election Watch In response to the RSLC’s announcement, Bradley said: “The recognition by RSLC as one of the top 14 races to watch across the country is an incredible honor that reflects the momentum we’ve built, the resounding support of our vision for the office, and our plan for success in November.”

What they’re saying about the Future Majority Project

GOP group meets in Santa Fe, highlights NM race among those to watch The New Mexico Telegram “The Future Majority Project, part of the Republican State Leadership Committee, held its meeting in Santa Fe. Gov. Susana Martinez is one of the co-chairs of the FMP board along with Nevada governor Brian Sandoval. The two are the country’s only Hispanic governors and the New Mexico connections to the meeting had a definite Hispanic flair. Martinez headlined the event for the group dedicated to electing Republican state legislators..”

Republicans on the Hunt for Women Ready to Run for Office National Journal “The Republican State Leadership Committee’s Right Women, Right Now initiative, of which I’m proud to serve a co-chair, is leading the way. As part of the Future Majority Project to recruit, train, and support women and diverse Republican candidates for office, last cycle Right Women, Right Now identified 191 new Republican women candidates from 36 states. We spent more than $3 million to help elect 84 new Republican women to state office in the 2011-2012 cycle...”

[op-ed by Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch]

TW Shannon is a sign of things to come The Daily Beast “…the Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) launched the Future Majority Project three years ago with the specific goal to increase the number of women and people of color elected to office.The RSLC is the largest caucus of Republican state leaders and the only national organization whose specific purpose is to elect down-ballot, state-level Republican office holders. This encompasses everything from lieutenant governorships, elected statewide positions such as secretary of state, and representatives to the state house and state senate…

Eyeing House Races The Albuquerque Journal “A national Republican group aimed at recruiting Hispanic and minority candidates for elected offices around the country and backed by Gov. Susana Martinez ranks two New Mexico state House races among its top 14 races this year. The Future Majority Project says it’s eyeing New Mexico Republican House candidate Conrad James – challenging Rep. Elizabeth Thomson, D-Albuquerque – and Republican House candidate Sarah Maestas Barnes – challenging Rep. Emily Kane, D-Albuquerque – as challengers to watch as New Mexico Republicans push to win control of the state House for the first time in decades. The group, co-chaired by Martinez, is an arm of the Republican State Leadership Committee.

6 Florida House 30 and 49, races to watch according to RSLC Orlando Political Journal “The Republican State Leadership Committee has announced that two Central Florida State House races are on their “Races to Watch” list for 2014. In House 30, the group names Longwood Mayor and business owner Bob Cortes as it’s candidate of choice. Cortes faces Democratic incumbent Karen Castor-Dentel in the swing district that includes parts of Orange and Seminole counties. In House 49, the RSLC names Rene “Coach P” Plasencia as it’s candidate. Plasencia faces incumbent Joe Saunders in the seat that consists of parts of East Orlando and UCF…”

What they’re saying about .GOP

While the GOP is Going Digital, the Dems Are Reverting Back to Snail Mail In the Capital “…the Republicans meanwhile, are taking their voter turnout efforts online. On Wednesday the party unveiled their new site Register.gop, a sleekly designed platform in both English and Spanish, with a simple design making it possible for users to register to vote in minutes. The site is a pretty big deal for the GOP, which has traditionally been far behind the Democrats when it comes to incorporating technology into their campaign strategies…”

Legislative Party Is Selling .GOP Domain Names Ad Age “…In a novel approach to spurring adoption of centralized-digital platforms among like-minded campaigns and organizations, the Republican State Leadership Committee is the official registry for the .gop domain. What that means in practice is that the RSLC, which works to elect Republican candidates running for statewide legislative offices, is selling domain names that feature the .gop suffix.”

.gop Helps Republicans up Their Game Townhall.com “…In 2011, the Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) saw a unique opportunity to secure a key tool. Without fanfare or publicity, we sought, and obtained, the new web ending .gop. By getting .gop, we not only got a desirable (short) web ending, but also one that was instantly identifiable with our Party. In doing so we became the only political party worldwide to own and run its own web ending…”

[op-ed by RSLC President, Matt Walter]

Republicans Set to Roll Out ‘.GOP’ Web Addresses The Wall Street Journal “…This summer, the Republican Party is rolling out the first-ever political website suffix: ‘.gop’…the Republican State Leadership Committee, a group that seeks to elect Republicans to state-level offices, created the new top-level domain in an effort to build the GOP’s online community, and to give the party’s online fundraising efforts a leg up. The .gop ending joins hundreds of other previously existing top-level domains, including the longstanding .com and .org, as well as relative newcomers such as .biz…”

7 What they’re saying about the Judicial Fairness Initiative

Republican group will focus on judicial races The Washington Post “…A Republican organization dedicated to electing state and local officials will broaden its scope and begin targeting judicial races, bringing outside money and sophisticated campaign tactics to one of the last calm backwaters of politics. The Republican State Leadership Committee said Tuesday it will launch the Judicial Fairness Initiative, a project aimed at backing judge candidates with conservative ideologies. The group will help coordinate resources between judicial candidates and party committees, and will help contact voters on behalf of those candidates…”

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