California Republican Party Nomination - Endorsement Process

A Review of Options

How many options are on the table?

There are four options on the table (1) the current CRP convention system; (2) the
“Nehring system” bylaw proposal; (3) the “Legislative system” bylaw proposal; and (3)
the previous system.

If neither of the two bylaw proposals pass at the convention what will happen?

The current CRP convention system will govern unless overturned on the floor.

What are the major differences between the four options?

In essence the old bylaws stood for the long held concept that there was very little to be
gained in endorsing a Republican against a Republican. They allowed endorsements
only under unusual circumstances, such as special elections, and gave the winner of
the then primary election the nomination. The current by-laws and the Nehring system
call for endorsements/nominations in every election. The Legislative system recognizes
that the new top two primary introduces new dynamics and allows endorsements in
situations where there is a compelling reason for the party to endorse. It sets guidelines
and empowers a supermajority of the CRP board to determine where endorsements
should be considered. However, it prevents an outcome where a Republican wins the
primary but has to spend time in the general election seeking support of the party
organization while the opponent is focused on winning over the general electorate.

What is the difference between being the ʻnomineeʼ and being ʻendorsedʼ?

Endorsement allows the resources of the party to flow to the endorsed candidate.
Nomination includes all the benefits of being endorsed and in addition confers CRP
membership status on the nominee.

The current system and the Nehring system in essence consider nominations and
endorsements to be the same thing, determined via convention. In the former bylaws
and the Legislative system nominee status and the endorsement are separated.
Under the Legislative proposal, the nominee is determined by the voters in June, or in
November if two Republicans make the runoff. The party may express its view via an
endorsement if it determines an endorsement is warranted.

Whatʼs so important about being nominated or endorsed?

The nominee or endorsed candidate can use the endorsement in the campaign, and
may use the CRPs cheaper mailing postage rate. Non-nominees or endorsed
candidates are not eligible for any GOP resources. In the Democratic Party endorsed
candidates generally have won under their old primary system.

What happens under the current system or the Nehring system if a nominee/
endorsed candidate does not emerge from the June election?

There is no mandatory remedy. The CRP may at its discretion call another convention in
order to address the issue. However, because this act is discretionary there is a real
possibility that Republican candidates who were not the nominee or endorsed in the
June election will not have access to CRP resources in the November election.
Particularly in target races, this could be a significant problem.

Are nominations or endorsements mandatory for all races in the four plans?

No. Under the current system and the Nehring system a candidate in every partisan
race will be nominated/endorsed by some combination of state party members and/or
county central committee members. In the Legislative system the nomination will be
determined by voters - whichever Republican has the highest vote total in the June
election, if that Republican is running against a member of another party. If there are
two Republicans coming out of the June election the winner of the November election
will be the nominee. In the Legislative system endorsements are given on a case by
case basis, when there are problems caused by the new electoral system that could
prevent a good Republican from reaching the November ballot. These endorsements
are initiated by a 2/3 vote of the CRP Board. The final endorsement is made by CRP
delegates and county committee members who live in the district. In the former bylaws
the nomination went to the winner of the then primary election, and endorsements were
for special circumstances.

In essence the Legislative system allows voters to determine the strongest Republican
candidate, except when the rules of the new electoral system or the intervention of
liberal special interests threaten to keep a good Republican from the November ballot.
The current system and the Nehring system are more radical changes that force the
Republican Party to intervene in every Republican race even when there is no
compelling reason to do so or, worse, when party intervention could reduce the chances
of unifying behind a strong GOP candidate in the general election.

What is the justification in the current system and the Nehring system for taking
the nomination out of the hands of voters?

There are several, among them: (1) Republicans should choose Republican nominees
(2) It is better to have a small group of Republican representatives choose nominees
than a larger group of voters that includes non-Republicans (3) The nature of the new
system means that voters of other parties can influence the vote unfairly and that the
Republican Party has a right to help Republican voters focus their votes on a single
Republican to avoid this ʻwatering downʼ; (4) that multiple Republican candidates and
two Democrats, even in a safe Republican seat, two Democrats could emerge; and (5)
that without picking a Republican candidate labor or other liberal organizations could
recruit, fund, and elect a Republican with values contrary to those of the GOP. All of
these are significant concerns under the new electoral system.

What are the problems in practice with nominating or endorsing a Republican

candidates in every district?

The chief problem is that a universal endorsement increases dramatically the amount of
infighting within the party and makes it harder to unify the party around the nominee
with the best chance to win in November. In the old system of safe districts,
Republicans would win safe seats regardless. In a system of competitive seats, a
divided party insures the Republican will lose in November.

Further, it is likely that endorsing in every seat could have unfortunate results. The
system will inevitably nominate/endorse a number of less electable candidates who are
ʻinsidersʼ who have the relationships required to ʻgame the systemʼ. This will certainly
breed hostility and disgust from good Republican Tea Party, business owner, or local
elected official candidates. The Republican Party is a party of good government, and
when we express those values in our own behavior we win. When we decide that we
want to act like Democrats, with back room deals and ʻyou wash my back Iʼll wash your
backʼ politics we spoil our brand.

Is there another way to empower the GOP to address possible problems with the
new electoral system?

Yes. The Legislative system takes the traditional rights and the intelligence of
Republican voters seriously. Problem districts are addressed when and if they arise, on
a case by case basis. In the vast majority of districts where the right number of good
Republicans running make it likely that a good Republican will make it to the November
election, no CRP finger would be placed on the scale.

But this Legislative system does not shy away from action if there is a clear and present
threat. If there are multiple Republican candidates and only two Democrats candidates,
and there is a threat of two Democrats in the runoff the Legislative system gives the
GOP the power to endorse. If labor or other liberal organizations are intervening to elect
a labor friendly Republican, the Legislative system gives the GOP the power to endorse.
The key difference is, endorsements are discretionary, and used when there is a
problem, not mandatory.

Are there incumbent protections built into any or all of these systems?
In the current system, there are no protections for incumbents. With no endorsements in
the older bylaws there was no reason for incumbent protections. In both the Nehring
system and the Legislative system there are protections.

In the Nehring system the CRP Board has discretion to vote to nominate an incumbent
the nominee unless that incumbent: (a) voted for a tax increase as scored by the
Legislative Analyst, (b) voted to put a tax increase on the ballot as scored by the Legislative
Analyst, (c) voted against an official position of the Caucus, (d) endorsed or supported a
non-Republican candidate over a Republican candidate for an elected.

The Legislative system assumes that all incumbents are automatically the nominee, unless
the CRP Board votes 2/3 to send the incumbent into the process described above for other
candidates.