As we review the outcomes of the 2022 election season there are many factors to consider. Money raised surely has an impact on electoral success but, candidate recruitment, the economy, that national dialogue and the general disdain from the mainstream media against Republicans all factor into election outcomes as well.
With most of the races finalized we must take this opportunity to look back and try and ascertain what happened and, moving forward, what can be done differently if the GOP wants to grow their slim majority in the House and get to a majority in the U.S. Senate.
That said, who is to blame for the lackluster Republican performance in the midterm elections? It’s easy, and lazy to blame former President Donald Trump.
He’s the media’s easy target. They blame him for endorsing the “wrong” candidates, not spending enough of his money to help get them across the finish line, for not campaigning hard enough, etc., etc., etc.
Truth is, the problem is much bigger and deeper than one person. The Democrats have mastered how to harvest votes during what is now election week, month or in some cases multiple months.
The GOP and its leadership has been slow to react to mail-in balloting, the lengthy voting schedule that many states have adopted, and continue to think that if they “win” on election day it will be enough to propel them to victory … Those days are over.
What is the Republican National Committee’s plan to start winning again? Where was the Red Wave that they predicted. All I heard about was how many doors they knocked on, how many phone calls they made. I don’t care about those arbitrary numbers; I care about winning.
Going back to the “good ol days” of 2016, the GOP had control of the White House, the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. Since that time, they have lost all three and only in 2022 have they gained (barely) enough seats to take back the House.
It’s time to reevaluate how things have been done from the top down. Not just in a post-mortem autopsy but from the chairman to the lowest level staff. How were the decisions made, who made them and how was donor money spent.
Sure, RNC officials can point to the record amount of money they raised in 2022 — but it’s not all about the money.
It’s about messaging and reminding the American people of what the Republican party stands for — lower taxes, less regulation and personal freedom. The GOP governors around the country who outlined their forward-facing vision for their states won by record margins.
And, in the state of New York where Congressman Lee Zeldin was the Republican candidate, he outlined his vision for the state, and came much closer to winning than most predicted.
While Congressman Zeldin didn’t win, without his efforts in New York, the GOP would not have picked up four congressional seats — enough to give them the majority.
Maybe GOP leaders should be talking to those candidates around the country that won or helped propel others to victory — as opposed to the same political consultants that get rewarded whether they win or lose.
Time to rethink the way it’s always been done — from the top down and start winning again.
Corey Lewandowski is a former Trump 2016 campaign manager and 2020 senior adviser.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of The Free Press.