A letter from Senator Strickland to delegates and supporters
Our Republican Party lost many strong leaders and fighters this past election. The results were truly devastating here in California.
Moving forward from this election, we need a fresh start and a new beginning to restore political balance here in California by electing Republicans at every level of government. This is why I’m announcing my candidacy to be the next Chairman of the California Republican Party.
As someone who started as a volunteer activist in the College Republicans and Young Republicans, learning to manage and run many successful campaigns, and having experienced what it is to be a top target of the Democratic political machine, I believe I have the unique background and experience to effectively lead our California Republican Party into the future.
My experience as a legislator, both in the California State Assembly and the State Senate, along with my local government service as councilmember and mayor of Huntington Beach, has provided me with valuable lessons that I will apply to rebuilding our party from local communities to the State Capitol.
During this election, I personally worked with Reform California and thousands of grassroots volunteers to qualify Voter ID in California. This fundamental reform would be an eventual game changer for election integrity in our state. Voter ID will remain a priority for our party.
Our California Republican Party needs to work with its leaders to lay out a strong and winning agenda. We need to be the party of ideas that motivates our voters with a vision worthy of our proud history and our superior conservative ideals.
The party must recruit, train and endorse candidates for offices at every level of government. As CRP Chairman, I will ensure that we implement candidate recruitment and training to help our candidates be prepared to win.
As your Chairman, I will work hard to raise the necessary funds to move forward on an aggressive voter registration program to build our membership numbers throughout the state. The state party must work closely with local county parties to build a robust volunteer base, focus on the basics of implementing precinct-level programs, and provide our candidates with the tools and volunteer support they need to get out the vote and help every endorsed candidate compete and win.
Make no mistake: the Democrats will overplay their hand here in California and in Washington and vote for the most damaging and unpopular ideas. When they do, our party will shine the spotlight on them in the media and in their local districts to let their constituents know how out of step they really are.
I am grateful for the fundraising success that we have had across all of my campaigns, and I will work tirelessly to fund these programs that are essential to taking back our Golden State.
California is worth fighting for. I truly believe this, and I want my children, your children and future generations to grow up in the state that we grew up in, with even more opportunities than we all had. Please join me in this fight to take back California. Together, we can do this.