What party split? Trump Republicans are Reagan Republicans. Here’s how we win this fall | Opinion
As chairman of the Tarrant County GOP — the largest red urban county in Texas and the entire nation — I have the honor of presiding over an executive committee of hundreds of Republican precinct chairs and leading thousands of activists. As you can imagine, there are wide ranges of belief and perspective within our party.
Meanwhile, Tarrant County’s political landscape is precarious. While down-ballot Republicans have generally done well, the county’s margins in recent years have been razor-thin. In 2018, Sen. Ted Cruz lost Tarrant to Beto O’Rourke. In 2020, President Donald Trump narrowly lost Tarrant to Joe Biden.
Naturally, I’m frequently asked how we plan to secure victory in the upcoming November elections. Some believe we should return to the principles of Ronald Reagan, while others insist that Trump’s vision is the way forward.
But here’s the truth: Reagan Republicans are Trump Republicans. We are one party, united by a common cause, and together, we will win.
I grew up in an era when there were only three channels on TV. I remember the excitement of getting HBO and the novelty of the “clicker” remote. Those memories are vivid, especially one night in 1976, when I sat on my dad’s lap to watch the Republican National Convention. That year, the party nominated Gerald Ford instead of that “actor,” Ronald Reagan. I recall the skepticism toward Reagan, and how, when Ford invited Reagan to address the convention, his words left a lasting impression.
My dad turned to me and said, “We picked the wrong guy.”
Four years later, Reagan became president, and during my formative years, I admired his strength, eloquence and ability to make our adversaries respect and even fear him. Reagan was not perfect, but his leadership defined an era of conservative triumph.
Fast forward to 2016. The world had changed dramatically. The government had expanded beyond what even Reagan could have imagined. Threats, both foreign and domestic, had grown more dangerous. Cultural shifts presented new challenges, and the battles of today require new strategies.
Trump stepped into this reality with a bold vision and an unyielding determination to protect America. The same principles that guided Reagan — strength, resilience and an unwavering commitment to American values — are what drive Trump Republicans today.
Our fight is not against each other; it’s against the forces that threaten the very fabric of our society. We are united in our defense of the rule of law, our commitment to biblical principles, and our resolve to preserve the freedoms that define this great nation. The other side will do anything to maintain power, even if it means subverting the Constitution or colluding with powerful elites. We must recognize this and respond with the unity and strength that has always been our hallmark.
This is a time for choosing. Are we going to allow the other side to destroy America, or will we stand together to defend our nation? The answer is clear: We must unite, fight, and win.
We don’t need to abandon the past to succeed in the present. On the contrary, we must embrace the enduring principles that have always guided our party, while also adapting to the challenges of today. Our side needs warriors, leaders who are unafraid to stand up for what is good, right, true and beautiful.
Ronald Reagan took on the Soviet Union. Donald Trump is taking on the woke progressives and globalists. Both men stood up to the challenges of their day and fought to put America First.
It’s time to shake off the divisions of the past and focus on the battles of today. It’s time to unite as one Republican Party, committed to making America great again. Together, we will secure victory in November and preserve the values that make our country exceptional.
This story was originally published September 3, 2024 at 5:31 AM.