A.G. Gancarski
A Monday email from state Reps. Richard Corcoran and Jose Oliva on behalf of the House Majority 2016 campaign outlined the five guiding principles of the 2016 State House campaign in light of the “volatility of this campaign season.”
One such principle: staying out of the primary scrum.
“We will not interfere in primary races in open House seats,” the email advises. “Selecting the Republican nominee for an open House seat is the role of local primary voters not the state party or House leadership.”
To that end, the second principle is “[w]e will help those who help themselves. House Campaigns exists to supplement the re-election efforts of House members who are working hard, raising money, and engaging in grassroots outreach.”
The third principle posits that “campaign decisions” will be made “collaboratively.”
“Our House Majority 2016 campaign is a caucus-wide effort and input on important strategic and tactical decisions should not be limited to 1 or 2 members. That is why, as we told you in December, we have created an Election Coordinating Team to oversee House races and make resource allocation decisions.”
Applicable criteria include “geographic diversity, fundraising expertise, and members with first hand experience running in and winning difficult seats.”
The members of the the Election Coordinating Team indeed represent geographic diversity, with many strong fundraisers among them: Michael Bileca, Jim Boyd, Travis Cummings, Jose Felix Diaz, Ben Albritton, Matt Caldwell, Jeanette Nuñez, Elizabeth Porter, Carlos Trujillo, Chris Sprowls, Jason Brodeur, and Ray Rodrigues.
To that end, money raised will be spent in “smart, strategic ways that ensure that we reach the greatest number of targeted voters. When we spend money on races, it should be to benefit our members not consultants or vendors.”
For members running in “potentially competitive or vulnerable seats,” help is available, including a Live Telephone Town Hall Program, a Campaign Manager Program, and a Grassroots Walking Program.
