RPW Endorsement Restrictions on State Offices Must be Rescinded and Modified
In the interest and expectation of having free and fair elections in Wisconsin, this request is to the RPW for recinding and modifications of the Candidate Endorment Policy
Important Information & Links
Commitment to Fair & Free Elections
In 2020, we found our faith in our election security shaken and the relative process questionably executed. Additionally, it is well known, though not publicly acknowledged by RPW that certain activities and actions are being carried out and taken to limit the campaign field of viable candidates, candidate platforms, policy messaging.
It is in the spirit and expectation of free and fair elections that we and the signers of this petition demand that the Republican Party of Wisconsin exemplifies and demonstrates its commitment to the integrity of our elections by rescinding and modifying the restrictions on candidates and timelines associated with qualifying for the RPW nomination.
We acknowledge that officially the RPW states that it supports all candidates and platforms equally but unofficially has already decided on what platform and candidates they have selected for their support and subsequent party nomination.
Some of these actions and activities include…
- Encouraging candidates, unofficially, to drop from the races
- Limiting access to county campaign resources such as events and office access
- Attempting to pigeonhole candidates with shorten deadlines
- Imposing requirements on campaigns to cease campaigning for the offices sought by their candidates should the RPW endorsement not be obtained.
- Obstructing canvassing teams and staffers from promoting their campaigns in county offices
It is due to this cloudy and murky nomination process that The Modern Patriot and supporting candidates, voters, and patriots are issuing the following demands of the Republican Party of Wisconsin to ensure that republican primary elections are fair and declared candidates get an absolute and fair chance at the offices they are seeking.
It has long been rumored and argued that the RPW has been quietly urging candidates to drop out of their races and that the RPW has long since already decided which candidates they want to run in the 2022 primary in August.
This declaration and subsequent petition have been developed to protect our primaries and the following general election to ensure that all candidates currently seeking office and the RPW nomination are allowed a fair opportunity and reasonable time to both fundraise and promote their platforms without the impedance of the state party’s perceived bias of candidates.
We issue the following demands and petition to accomplish four objectives.
1
The RPW deadline for fundraising and subsequent Nomination Committee selection will be pushed back to Wednesday, May 11th, 2022
- The current deadline of March 15th is far too soon for any candidate without a long-established following or prior party support to expect to qualify for the RPW endorsement.
- The requirement does not allow any candidate to take advantage of canvasing opportunities and efforts made during the initial months of signature gathering which does not begin until April 15th, with the understanding that many donors will using their tax refunds rather than their disposal income during hard financial times in Wisconsin to make contributions to the campaigns of the candidates they support
- Allows candidates to reach the majority of small donors required by the same RPW restrictions and requirements outlined in the RPW Endorsement Policy.
- The current time constraint is far too narrow a window provided is intentionally meant to limit candidates outreach and ability to campaign, reach voters, and compete for the support needed
- Candidate presentations, as outlined, are ten minutes long which can easily be accomplished over the 9 business days leading up to the State Convention.
2
The RPW will rescind the “Post-Primary Unity Pledge”
- Candidates should be allowed to depart from RPW endorsed candidates’ platforms and their relative policy items should their own platforms and policy differ but remain within the scope of the longstanding conservative principles of what is defined as a republican.
- The current actions and forced policy of RPW do not necessarily reflect Wisconsin conservatives and Republican voters as a whole within the state of Wisconsin.
- Candidates will not be required to terminate their campaign if they do not receive the RPW endorsement and nomination.
- Criteria and definitions of “smear” must and will be clearly defined so as to allow candidates to engage constructively over opposing candidates’ policy and explanation of that policy so as to encourage healthy debate of the issues the voter’s issues within the scope of the office they are seeking.
3
The RPW will make public any and all documents and required pledges regarding the criteria for compliance by candidates to be “in general agreement with the principles of the Republican Party”
- Any and all criteria used to discern and outline what RPW expectations candidates to follow as principles shall be stated and made public to republican voters throughout the state for critique and to inform, made available at every county office throughout the State of Wisconsin
4
The RPW will cease absolving incumbents from all viability requirements
- Incumbent candidates will be required to demonstrate the same capacities and understand their office’s issues prior to the obtainment of any RPW nominations
- Candidate campaigns shall be judged on their benefit to the people of Wisconsin and no longer will criteria be defined by their benefit the RPW
The RPW Candidate Endorcement Policy Transposed
Prologue
Recently, the Modern Patriot came into possession of the fabled nominations restrictions and requirements they have placed on candidates seeking partisan state offices in Wisconsin. Link to PDF File
Below is the transposed copy taken directly from the RPW Endorsement PDF. Modifications are simply corrections to spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
2022 Republican Party of Wisconsin Endorsement Policy
Report of the Endorsement Committee, Recommended Endorsement Policy, December 10, 2021
Approved by Executive Committee December 19, 2021
Authorization
It shall be the policy of the Republican Party of Wisconsin to determine the viability of candidates for partisan statewide office in the state of Wisconsin including,
- U.S. Senator,
- Governor,
- Lieutenant Governor,
- Secretary of State,
- State Treasurer, and
- Attorney General.
In accordance with Article VIII, Section 2 of the Republican Party of Wisconsin Constitution, only those candidates deemed viable shall be eligible for endorsement at the Republican Party of Wisconsin State Convention. This viability process shall occur under the auspices of the Endorsement Committee. However, it shall be the exclusive responsibility of the Executive Committee of the RPW to approve candidates to be placed on the endorsement ballot.
General Viability Defined
Viability is defined by Webster as, (1) “The ability to function adequately”; and “the ability to succeed or be sustained”. Viability is viewed in the context of the ability to conduct a statewide campaign including raising necessary funds, planning a winning campaign strategy, building an adequate staff, building and sustaining an adequate volunteer network, having a strong message that can win a majority of the voters, and unifying the party. It is realized that some judgments by the Party will be subjective and will be considered in the broadest possible way.
No candidate will be considered for endorsement who has been convicted of a serious felony or is charged with a felony by a state or federal district attorney unless the State Executive Committee by a two-thirds vote by secret ballot shall permit such a candidate to be considered.
Endorsement Committee Duties and Procedures
The Endorsement Committee shall hold its meetings at a time and place convenient to its members and at intervals conducive to the carrying out of its business. For the purpose of candidate interviews, a minimum of five (5) members must be present.
The Endorsement Committee shall entertain all candidates that present themselves to determine if they are viable and eligible for endorsement. It shall be the policy of the Endorsement Committee to meet with and assess the candidates in a fair and impartial manner. Any candidates deemed viable and eligible for endorsement by the committee shall be entitled to receive assistance from the State party until the endorsement vote takes place at the State Convention.
Unless otherwise determined by the Endorsement Committee, incumbent Republican officeholders shall be deemed viable and shall automatically be eligible for endorsement.
This shall not preclude the Endorsement Committee from interviewing, and determining the viability of, candidates who enter a primary campaign against an incumbent. However, the burden of convincing the committee of his/her viability shall rest overwhelmingly with the challenger and he/she shall provide a detailed campaign plan and demonstrate an ability to raise money and develop a support system and differentiate his/herself from the incumbent.
Furthermore, the candidate must be deemed beneficial to the Republican Party of Wisconsin.
Viability Factors
Candidate viability may be based on many differing factors. When meeting with and discussing candidates the following may be reviewed and considered in making the determination of viability.
Viability Qualifications
- Candidate must have filed all necessary paperwork with either state or federal election authorities, are legally a candidate under their rules, and are allowed to raise money and meet the viability requirements below by March 15;
- Candidate must be a member in good standing in their local county Republican Party;
- Candidates must have an established campaign plan, demonstrate they have the ability to mount a statewide campaign, and strategy on how to win the general election.
- The candidate’s views must be consistent with the platform of the Republican Party of Wisconsin and the Republican National Committee and sign a recent copy of each platform stating that they are “in general agreement with the principles of the Republican Party”.
- Candidate Finacial Requirments
- Candidate for Governor or U. S. Senate must demonstrate the ability to raise funds and shall have raised at least $100,000 from at least 1,000 separate contributors by March 15, not including any loaned funds, contributions from the candidate or the candidate’s immediate family, or from any Political Action Committee (PAC), except for WinRed,
- Candidate for Lt. Governor shall have raised at least $50,000 from at least 300 contributors subject to the same exclusions as above
- Candidate for Attorney General shall have raised at least $50,000 from at least 300 contributors subject to the same exclusions as above, and
- Candidate for Secretary of State or State Treasurer shall have raised at least $10,000 from 100 contributors subject to the same exclusions as above;
- Candidate must have knowledge of the issues that pertain to the office for which they are running which they will demonstrate during a presentation not more than 10 minutes;
- Candidate for Governor or U. S. Senate has hired as least two persons full time, by March 15, to manage and fundraise for a statewide campaign;
- The candidate will attest that they are not a member of any other political party;
- Candidate signs the RPW Post-Primary Unity Pledge and pledges not to engage in smear campaign tactics against other Republican candidates.
- A candidate that declares after March 15 of 2022, to be viable, shall have raised at least $1,000,000, none of it as a loan, as demonstrated by bank statements, and have hired at least two persons full time, from March 15, to manage and fundraise for a statewide campaign;
- No candidate will be considered for endorsement that has not been declared by April 15.
Endorsement Committee Conduct, Party Unity
The Endorsement Committee shall conduct an assessment interview to determine the viability of the potential candidates at least 30 days prior to the state convention.
All candidates participating in the viability assessment process will agree to support the winner of the primary race in the general election, regardless of who receives the endorsement.
Upon request by a potential candidate, the Endorsement Committee shall provide all potential candidates with a fair and unbiased assessment of their viability.
When a potential candidate is identified or comes forward, the potential candidate shall be apprised of this policy. Except as otherwise stated in this policy, information related to the Committee’s deliberations shall remain confidential except the final determination of viability. The Endorsement Committee Chair will report on its activities to the Executive Committee on a regular basis either through regularly scheduled State Executive Committee meetings or scheduled conference calls.
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