It's Past Time the CT GOP Get Out of the Establishment Game

 

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The Connecticut GOP, in its infinite wisdom does not like running or endorsing America First candidates, a term popularized by former President Donald Trump that emphasizes putting the needs and interests of American citizens first in policy decisions and therefor the CT GOP may not prioritize America First candidates in their selection process.

The CT GOP may be more aligned with what they perceive to be “traditional” Republican values, which does not align with the America First agenda where the real priorities lay and the real chance for change. Traditional Republican values often prioritize free market principles, limited government intervention, and conservative social values.  America First agenda places greater emphasis on protectionist trade policies, a foreign policy of peace through strength, low inflation, a return to producing our own oil to lower gas prices, stricter immigration controls, ending the wokeness and DEI nonsense and bringing back economic prosperity among other agenda concerns.

Additionally, the CT GOP is influenced by the preferences of its donor base and party leadership. Donors who are more aligned with traditional Republican values may not support America First candidates, leading the party to prioritize candidates who are more in line with their preferences in order to secure funding for their campaigns. Party leadership may also be hesitant to embrace America First candidates if they believe it could alienate more moderate voters and harm their electoral prospects in a state that has historically leaned towards the Democratic Party. This may explain why many races in Connecticut are not being contested.

Additionally, the CT GOP faces pressure from national Republican entities to adhere to a more traditional Republican platform. The Republican National Committee (RNC) has been divided in recent years between more establishment Republicans and those aligned with the America First agenda. The CT GOP aligns itself with the more traditional Republican platform in order to maintain their standing within the national party and receive support from national GOP entities.

Furthermore, the political landscape in Connecticut is also a factor in why the CT GOP does not prioritize America First candidates. Connecticut is a historically blue state that has consistently voted for Democratic candidates in presidential elections. The CT GOP believes that running America First candidates would not resonate with the state's electorate and may be seen as too extreme or out of touch with the priorities of Connecticut voters. In today’s political climate though, it would be wise to run such candidates as former President Trump is polling very high across all communities.

Additionally, the CT GOP is focused on winning elections, but their core concern is gaining and retaining power in the state, which leads them, often unsuccessfully, to prioritize candidates who they believe have a greater chance of winning over candidates who align with the America First agenda. While winning elections is crucial for the party to advance their policy priorities and secure a foothold in the state government, the CT GOP should prioritize candidates who have a clear and strong message that resonates with voters. As President Ronald Reagan asked during a campaign, “Are you better off today than you were four years ago?” This question should be asked over and over again, which is what America First candidates often do. The GOP establishment is more concerned with convincing voters they are the answers to the problems faced today, many of which they themselves either created or enabled.

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Moreover, the CT GOP is influenced by the media and public opinion when selecting candidates. The mainstream media often portrays America First candidates as extreme or controversial, and the CT GOP is hesitant to embrace candidates who could potentially face negative media coverage, often distancing themselves from the candidates which leads the CT GOP to prioritize candidates who are perceived as more moderate and mainstream. Name calling America First candidates “extremist” “right wingers,” or “hard right” is disingenuous and only creates larger fractures within the Republican Party. The CT GOP has continually run establishment candidates and if they are attempting to turn Connecticut red, they will have a very difficult uphill battle.

Republican voters in Greenwich and beyond have made it clear in the recent primaries that they want change by voting for U.S. Senate candidate Matthew Corey and 4^th Congressional District candidate Dr. Michael Goldstein, both of whom support President Trump and the America First agenda. Voters are tired of do-nothing politicians. It would be very prudent for the CT GOP to use their campaign apparatus and stand behind, support and endorse these hard-working America First candidates and stop pretending their strategy of running “club” candidates are working. They are not. As Albert Einstein was quoted as saying, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

CT GOP should be paying strong attention and stop making it about the big donors and start making it about their constituents who continue to ask for change.