If you are bummed out by the constant barrage of negativity in the press about Republicans, today’s release of the 2017 Annual Report by the Harris County Republican Party should lift your spirits. First, an intro from Chairman Paul Simpson.
A letter from the Chairman
2017 was a year of incredible consequence for the Harris County Republican Party. As we begin the new year, we embrace 2018 with eagerness and anticipation. Our work will keep Harris County red, and help our great candidates win – from the top to the bottom of the ballot. Achieving victory will be an enormous undertaking, requiring all of us to work together.
The Annual Report for 2017 details many of the party’s significant accomplishments during the past year. It was a year of phenomenal growth: adding more than 260 precinct chairs since 2014, five full-time staffed offices across the county, and our expanding reach in the southeast part of Harris County, where we’ve made great strides in Pasadena and Baytown.
Our fundraising continued to grow at a rapid pace in 2017. We raised over $800,000 and continue to increase membership in the Grassroots, Foundation and Cornerstone Clubs. These key supporters are committed to the long-term success of the HCRP. We are also excited for what 2018 holds. We will be introducing new levels of financial support membership that offers options for big and small donors alike.
As we worked to grow the party across the county, we overhauled our communications strategy. This began with adding a full-time Communications Director to the staff. This helped us take significant steps to increase our availability to the media, and improve our relationships with members of the press and numerous media outlets.
We have also seen improvements with the reach and effectiveness of our messaging. The HCRP is reaching a wider, bigger audience than ever before. This change takes effect at a critical time for the party as part of a broader political movement, since the ways people consume information is changing dramatically.Overall, the party has never been more active, more diverse, more energized to win. We have recruited more activists, more precinct chairs, and more candidates for office, which gives us more opportunities for success. 2018 will be a year of hard-fought victories as we work together to #KeepHarrisCountyRed!
– Paul Simpson
Click here to view the report.
Really, read the entire report. There are some very positive things happening for Republicans in Harris County. I’ve said it before but it bears repeating: in all the years I’ve been closely following the inner workings of the party and being a precinct chair, there has never been a time that the party was better organized, more active, more diverse or more financially stable.
One thing that really stood out was that 65% of new precinct chairs are under 50 years of age. We are finally getting a bit younger. And the increase in social media presence is impressive. Way to go Vlad!
(Note: I realize that this is primary season and that there is a competitive race for party chair. But this report is not a campaign piece, it is a report for the Republicans in Harris County that needs to be shared. There is no question that incumbency has its privileges but that’s simply the way things work.)
Thanks very much, David!