With predictions of a national red wave in the midterm elections falling short, many in the GOP are looking for new party leadership. Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP) chairman John Wahl believes Republican National Committee (RNC) chair Ronna McDaniel currently has the votes to beat out challengers Harmeet Dhillon and Mike Lindell, but that could change between now and the leadership election on January 27.
"It's hard anytime you're going through a cycle where you don't have the results you expected it to be, and for the Republican Party, that's not just this cycle. That's going back two or three cycles," Wahl said Wednesday on Rightside Radio.
Regardless of who wins, Wahl said the issues with the RNC run deeper than whoever holds the chair position, and there needs to be a "fundamental shift" from within the party. He said the RNC should look at the states where Republicans performed well, like in Alabama and Florida, to help see what works and doesn't.
"Why did these states have a red wave? Why did they produce? And I think when you look at the quality [of candidates], that's what you see," he said.
Wahl touted Florida Governor Ron Desantis' bold stance on cultural issues and Alabama's recent legislative record against woke policies as winning strategies among Republican voters.
"That's the shift I want to see in the national Republican Party," he said. "I want to see a Republican Party that is actively fighting and standing up for people… Why, when the Republicans get control, do they not have the same backbone as the Democrats have?.. We need people who are willing to stand and fight on the social issues but also on the financial side.
"It's about the America First agenda, getting the government back to serving the people," he continued. "The greatest risk to our country, if we're honest about it, is our national debt and our out-of-control spending. That's what's actually taken out most countries, most great empires throughout history, is not being able to control themselves financially."
Part of getting the GOP back on track, Wahl said, lies in persuading a younger generation of voters away from the Democratic Party and toward Republican values.
"When I was elected, I was actually the youngest chairman in the country, so reaching out to young people is very important to me," Wahl said. "The sad truth is what I think we're seeing is we're reaching a culture that no longer respects work, no longer respects traditional values. And I put a large blame on our education system… If we don't get that under control, the next generation will be worse than what we're seeing now.
"Where we have the chance to pick them [young voters] up is to reach them on a value level. And what I mean by that is, when you think about what everyone wants no matter what your social demographic is, no matter what your age range, no matter your race. We all want to be safe. We all want to be successful, and we all want our children, our future generations, to have a good, bright future. When you think about those things, it is the policies of the Republican Party that best accomplish them."
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email daniel.taylor@1819news.com.
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