Tuesday’s resounding defeat, a generational extinction-level event that swept Democrats into power not just in Washington but across the country in state capitals, needs to become the starting point for rebuilding a Republican Party that owes its voters, nominees, volunteers, and donors something more than personal loyalty.
Republicans need an honest accounting of what went wrong and a credible plan to fix it.
I remain a Republican because I believe center-right principles are the principles of a national majority.
We are the party of Lincoln, Grant, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Reagan, both Bushes and, yes, Trump. That inheritance belongs to all Republicans.
Rebuilding must begin with the Republican National Committee.
Its 168 members represent 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five territories. They have a responsibility to exercise independent judgment.
Moving forward, three commitments should guide the RNC’s members.
First, restore the institutional party and make it a broad tent capable of winning in every state.
A national party cannot write off entire regions. In 2028, red states are battlegrounds.
Candidate quality matters. But so does having competent state and county parties in every state and every county. Even the strongest nominee will struggle without an organization.
The RNC must help recruit and develop candidates, strengthen state and county party organizations, and build coalitions broad enough to win majorities.
Restoring the party also means expelling the grifters from its ranks.
Republicans must stop rewarding consultants whose scam fundraising efforts abuse donor trust. People who contribute because they believe they are helping elect Republicans should not be treated as marks.
Outside organizations can and do make valuable contributions. But a donor’s preferred cause is no substitute for the Republican Party. The RNC needs a serious and honest debate about its role in today’s campaign-finance environment.
Second, hold an open election for RNC chairman in January 2027.
Serious candidates should present competing proposals. RNC members must examine what is working, what is failing, and what must change. The result should follow that debate, not precede it.
Neither the president nor the vice president should pressure RNC members to support or oppose a candidate for chairman.
Third, guarantee a fair presidential nomination contest in 2028.
The next RNC chairman must be neutral. No RNC money or personnel should advance a preferred successor or obstruct a challenger.
State parties must give Republican voters a meaningful choice. Primaries, caucuses, and conventions must not be canceled in favor of closed-door decisions by state party central committees. Rules should be transparent, established well in advance, and applied consistently.
Republicans can disagree about the next nominee. But the nomination must be earned through a contest voters can trust. Nobody is entitled to it.
DEMOCRATS RAN RADICALS AND STILL WON. DON’T BLAME THE CANDIDATES — TRUMP OWNS THIS BLOODBATH
Our party has recovered from devastating defeats before. However, recovery requires leaders willing to listen, reconsider their assumptions, and rebuild.
I want a Republican Party strong enough to outlast any president, broad enough to welcome voters who do not agree with us on everything, and competent enough to compete for votes in every state.
Dennis Lennox is a columnist, political commentator, and Republican public affairs consultant. Follow @dennislennox on X.