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OPINION - As an African-American and a Republican, I was encouraged to see Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus immediately respond with a post-election review panel...
It is well known that in both 2008 and 2012 the Republican Party failed to win the White House in large part because it did not do a great job with minority voters. But how one reacts to failure often determines how quickly one will succeed.
As an African-American and a Republican, I was encouraged to see Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus immediately respond with a post-election review panel.
This review panel, on which I served as one of five co-chairs, was called the Growth and Opportunity Project and had a singular purpose: make recommendations about how to grow the party, reach new voters and win more elections. We spent three months and received input from over 52,000 individuals—from surveys, focus groups, and one-on-one meetings.
We touched on a number of issues, but among the most important ones was the need to diversify the party and engage Black, Asian, and Hispanic communities which the Party hasn’t always reached or served well. We pledged to accomplish this by hitting the ground early, often and in the places where we live, work and come together to worship.
One year later, it is encouraging to see the progress the RNC has made in taking the steps needed to restart the conversation and engage with minority voters.
Today, 91 percent of the RNC’s political staff is in communities across the country, outside of the Washington, DC headquarters. There are minority state engagement directors from Virginia to Colorado, Louisiana to Michigan, and in between, working diligently to build meaningful and positive relationships.
In addition to these hires and the work they do, Chairman Priebus has also met with key stakeholders in diverse communities. Last year, he led a delegation to the annual meeting of the NAACP where he was warmly received. He also delivered remarks at the National Black Chamber of Commerce Convention in Florida.
In November, Priebus traveled to Detroit and hosted a roundtable discussion with black business and community leaders where he shared the party’s vision for reviving our urban centers. In New Orleans, he sat down with parents and students to hear how they benefitted from a scholarship program that allowed them to attend quality schools.
To mark the beginning of Black History Month, at the historic Howard Theatre in Washington, DC, the RNC honored three accomplished black Republicans for breaking barriers and opening doors.
These are just a few examples of the RNC’s engagement efforts with minority voters. And they’re just the beginning. Listening to and being present in the Black community is a long term commitment for the RNC.
The seeds have been planted, but in order to harvest positive results, there is much more left to do. Yet, one year after the release of the Growth and Opportunity Project report, I’m glad to see my party is doing things differently and engaging with minority voters.
Glenn McCall is a Republican Party National Committeeman and resides in South Carolina
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