In the past, the battle to win elections was determined by who had the better message and policies. The victor often just had the better slogan that encapsulated the solution to America’s current problems. But times have changed.
After the results of the 2022 and 2023 elections, it’s pretty clear that many on the conservative side of the aisle don’t understand this. Candidates still operating under the old assumptions are losing, and the candidates who have adapted to the new era of elections are winning. It is that simple. Conservatives are fielding a junior varsity squad against a pro-NFL team when it comes to voter turnout. Without serious investment and a professional strategy, their mobilization efforts are weak, and their messaging is ineffective. It’s time to upgrade their campaign from Pop Warner to the big league to score electoral wins.
While the results from this week’s election had some major America First victories, many Republican voters can’t help but feel that there were several missed opportunities. And they are right.
Securing the early vote has become the difference between winning and losing elections. After the ballot-chasing game changed during the 2020 elections, can the Republican Party honestly say they have adapted well to the new playing field? The technical aspects of campaigning are not glamorous, but they are essential. In recent elections, data has shown that despite efforts like Governor Youngkin’s prioritization of early voting, Democrats consistently outperformed Republicans in mail-in ballots and early votes, except in a few instances. The importance of these technical elements cannot be overstated. In an age where every vote is crucial, failing to deliver the mail-in and early vote is akin to a football team showing up without their gear.
Another case in point is the mail-in voter advantage Democrats had in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court seat was up for grabs — a massive opportunity to combat the Left’s assault on culture, values, lawfare, and election integrity. Conservatives will not have another opportunity to reclaim the court until 2026. To put it bluntly, the elections in Pennsylvania were a big deal.
Did the Republican Party go all in to win it? No. Consulting class conservatives in Washington, D.C., largely ignored it in 2023. Meanwhile, the Left did what they always do — swamped the voting booth with early and mail-in votes before Election Day even began. Republican Carolyn Carluccio had 170,206 mail-in ballots. Meanwhile, Democrat Daniel McCaffery had 524,963 ballots — three times the votes before Election Day! So once again, although Carluccio delivered more than a million votes on election day, it was not enough to overcome the Left's mail-in ballots.
It’s Election Day déjà vu. Only this time, the party apparatus had three years to prepare. It’s time for a conservative wake-up call. We have one year left before the main event next November and have no time to waste. The strategy of “Vote Blue no matter who” employed by Democrats underpins a more significant, more formidable voter identification and turnout machine.
There is a reason Joe Biden signed Executive Order 14019 on March 7, 2021. In their perversely named “Strengthening Democracy” report, the Left predicts EO 14019 “could collectively generate an additional 3.5 million voter registration applications per year” thanks to the active involvement of scores of federal agencies. As a result, some Democrats are so sure about 2024 that Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA-36) confidently tweeted, “Joe Biden will be re-elected, and the election will not be close.”
The conservative response to this cannot simply be a mirror image; it must be an intelligent, targeted approach that acknowledges the reality of being outspent, as seen in the vast sums Democrats invest in campaign initiatives and issue-specific advertising.
Money is a factor, but it is not the only one. Conservatives must work smarter, not necessarily spend more. This calls for a tactical operation that leverages data analytics and grassroots mobilization, akin to a political special forces unit that can do more with less.
At America First Works, we are building an operation to help close the gap on the Left’s ballot-chasing operation through c(4) coordination and digital engagement. The America First movement owes it to our voters to do more. Our policies are the right recipe for America. Our message resonates with everyday Americans who are struggling under the Biden presidency. Now, we need to harness this energy in the form of ballots to deliver for forgotten Americans.
Ashley Hayek is the Executive Director of America First Works, former Trump 2020 Campaign Coalitions Director, and author of Beat the Elites.