2026 Republican campaign plan
The doomers and gloomers are now admitting that the Republicans are beginning to close the gap. Which means the predicted "blue wave" probably won't happen. We're seeing a lag in the Democrat vote-by-mail requests. It seems the Democrats' preoccupation with transgenders, open borders and Islamists has alienated their faithful base. Along with the crime and desperately incompetent municipal government that pervades every major city.
At some point people will say they've had enough. We'd be nuts to ignore this opportunity.
Legend has it that after signing the Declaration of Independence, John Hancock advised his colleagues to hang together. Whereupon Benjamin Franklin reportedly quipped: "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately".
Today that's good advice for Republicans in a difficult year.
Some background
I've been around Republican politics for nearly five decades. Not sure I'd call it wisdom but I've learned a few truths that haven't changed in 50 years. I wrote this in the hope that others will learn. -- Joe Curran
Consultants and pundits will say the 2026 election is all about Trump, money and strategy. That's not even half of it.
It's not about you
Nor is it about you versus your opponent. When they mark their ballots most voters will know nothing about either candidate. That's because in low-visibility races (everything below Governor) 80 percent vote solely on the basis of party affiliation. We know this from the vote tallies.
The Democrats understand this, which is why most of their resources are devoted to getting their identified supporters to the polls.
Notice how the Democrats are on the wrong side of so many 80-20 issues (immigration, crime, transgenderism, school choice, voter ID) yet somehow they have enough support to threaten Republican control of Congress and the Trump presidency.It's because they get their votes out and the Republicans don't. Simple as that.
It's about Turnout
The so-called "wave" elections result from turnout
Two points up on one side and two points down on the other, and it swings all the close elections. Remember the gleeful Republican predictions in 2022 of a "red wave" that wasn't? The Democrats saw it coming, got to work and turned out their votes. The Republicans didn't. The same forces are at work this year.
To every Republican candidate in a competitive race I can offer this assurance: The Democrats will turn out their votes. If Republican turnout drops, you're toast.
This somber reality makes your strategy obvious.
At least half your effort should be focused on turning out likely Republican voters and building the Republican brand.
Here's the the good news for under-funded Republicans in tough races: it's the easiest, cheapest and most efficient method of generating votes.
Here's what you must do
1. Identify and "chase" absentee and early voters.
By election day, 62 percent will have voted. The Democrats massively exploit with increasing precision. The Republicans are miles behind but we can catch up quickly if everyone in the GOP universe (candidates, donors and party organizations) commit themselves. Bottom line: anyone who voted early in the past or who received a ballot in the mail this year must hear from you before they vote.
2. Engage the "disengaged" Republicans.
We'll find ourselves awash in a mid-term Democrat wave if we don't turn out those Republicans who voted in 2024 but not in 2022.They should be marked on your precinct lists and targeted for a special mailing. (Don't have a way of marking them? No precinct list? Call us.)
3. Make sure a slate card promoting the GOP brand is mailed to every voter.
We have much to be proud of, so why shouldn't we tell everyone?
We know from polling and the fall-off in early mail-vote requests that the Democrats' preoccupation with transgenders, open borders and Islamists has alienated many in their voting base. Which means that (finally!) those voters will listen to a GOP pitch.
The best slate card includes a winning slogan that all Republicans can repeat and reinforce. This probably has never been done before in your area, primarily because of the expense and the misperception that mailing to everyone is a waste of money. Forget the so-called experts. There are many good reasons to get this done.
Accomplish the above and any earnest underdog can make a game of it.
Is that it?
No. But if this can be accomplished, you're eighty percent there. Campaigning is a people business. The very act of organizing this will put you in touch with dozens, perhaps hundreds, of volunteers and donors who will help carry your campaign in the final two months.
Recruit, Target and Prioritize. Read the articles on this website, stay current with our blog and updates, and you'll soon envision a specific plan. We'll post more specifics in the coming weeks. In the meantime, get with the party and the other candidates. And git 'er done!
Here's more good news:
You needn't do it alone.
In fact you shouldn't.Republicans who operate their campaigns in separate "silos" are defeating themselves because we're all chasing mostly the same voters. Not to mention all the duplication and waste.Many like-minded groups (such as Turning Point Action) share our goals and want to help, so it's merely a matter of coordination, cooperation and organization. This is the easiest way for an under-funded candidate to generate votes.
In a perfect world the local GOP is three steps ahead of us on this. But we know the truth. Where there is no active GOP, the rest of us need to team up and get it done.
All Republicans must hang together
If turnout drops, everyone is toast.
The stakes this year
Donald Trump could be the first President removed from office. That's not a stretch:
President Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 after learning that at least four of the 44 Senate Republicans would vote to convict him on the likely House impeachment charges, which gave the 56 Senate Ds the necessary 60 votes to remove him.
This year, if the Democrats win the House, they'll quickly impeach Trump for a third time. What if the Democrats also regain control of the Senate? The midterm loss will spike President Trump's unpopularity in the GOP, which could give enough weak Republicans the cover they need to vote with Democrats and remove him.
Don't bet against it. For establishment Republicans the end of MAGA would be a dream come true.
For President Trump's enemies in China, Russia and all over the world, this is the golden opportunity to be rid of Trump once and for all. Right now they're finding ways to fund the Democrat turnout effort. (Candidates: your D opponent is a beneficiary of this effort.)
Lose this election and the remarkable Trump presidency is over.
Doesn't need to happen. Merely release the power and fury we've always held in reserve.
On that harrowing second day of the Gettysburg battle, our country needed heroes. A few reserves -- now immortals -- from Minnesota and Maine stepped into the breach, stopped the Confederate onslaught and saved the nation. Today we need heroes with the same character and sense of duty to our great nation.
Time to step up.