NRCC’s Walden Says GOP Must Focus on Minority Outreach, Communication

NRCC Chairman Greg Walden (Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call)

UPDATED 5:00 p.m. | WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Greg Walden said one of his priorities this cycle will be reaching out to minorities, something he said Republicans have not done well.

The Oregon representative said he plans to make inroads into minority communities and said the party needs to figure out better ways to communicate its message there.

“We recognize that Republicans have good answers; we just have bad communications in many cases,” Walden said at a panel discussion during House Republicans’ annual retreat. “We may not understand how what we say is interpreted by others. And we have to be sensitive and understand other issues that different communities face.” Full story

NRCC Announces Top Targets for 2014

The National Republican Congressional Committee on Wednesday released a list of the top seven Democratic-held House seats the committee plans to target in 2014, as it moves to go on offense despite having to defend the second-largest GOP House majority since World War II.

All of the targeted districts are Republican-leaning at the presidential level but have candidates who survived 2012 in spite of President Barack Obama being at the top of the ticket.

Full story

King Tells Members to Withhold Money From NRCC Over Sandy Aid

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Republican Rep. Peter T. King, who represents Long Island, N.Y., is furious with Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, for not taking up a Hurricane Sandy relief bill before the 112th Congress ends, and his political retaliation includes asking New York and New Jersey Republicans to withhold political donations to Congressional Republicans.

“They’re in New York all the time, filling their pockets with money from New Yorkers. I’m saying right now, anyone from New York or New Jersey who contributes one penny to Congressional Republicans is out of their minds,” King said in a Fox News interview.

He made similar statements on other news outlets. In that TV appearance, he echoed statements he made on the House floor, which included complaints about politicians who fundraise in New York City but who are not aiding the Empire State with relief.

The National Republican Congressional Committee declined to comment on King’s threat. A GOP aide noted that the NRCC’s job is to keep the GOP in the majority so that King “can be in a best position possible to advocate for his constituents.” Full story

Shop Talk: NRCC Fills Out Senior Leadership Team

The National Republican Congressional Committee has staffed up its senior team for the 2014 midterm election cycle.

NRCC Chairman Greg Walden of Oregon previously hired Liesl Hickey to run the committee as executive director. The new senior team, being announced Thursday, includes a few familiar names as well as some new ones.

Here are the new hires, along with their official biographies, as provided by the committee:

• Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel Jessica Furst’s “role at the NRCC is elevating after serving as General Counsel this past cycle. Jessica previously worked as an associate in Foley & Larder LLP’s Washington office in the Political Law Practice Group, where she represented various U.S. House and Senate candidates and national party committees. Prior to that experience, Jessica served as Communications Director to Congresswoman Katherine Harris’ successful 2004 Congressional campaign. Jessica also regularly appears as a panelist on the Hannity show on FOX News.”
• Political Director Rob Simms “is a veteran political operative and brings a wealth of valuable experience to our political division. Most recently, Rob has been a senior consultant at Red Maverick Media. Before that, he was chief of staff to Rep. Bill Shuster and president of Persuasion Public Strategies, a political consulting firm. Rob was Georgia’s deputy secretary of state from 2007 until 2009. His vast experience spans from congressional to senatorial to gubernatorial campaigns.”
• Communications Director Andrea Bozek ”got her start at NRCC during the 2006 cycle. She later worked as a research analysis and regional coordinator on John McCain’s presidential campaign, was press secretary for Congressman Tom Reynolds and served as communications director for Chris Lee’s campaign and official office. A Buffalo native, Andrea returned to the NRCC in 2011 as a regional press secretary and rose to Deputy Communications Director.” Full story

NRCC Names Ryan Chairman of Annual Fundraising Dinner

(Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

The National Republican Congressional Committee announced Monday that Rep. Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin will chair its annual fundraising dinner in March.

Ryan, the 2012 GOP vice presidential nominee and the House Budget Committee chairman, will headline the dinner, which brought in more than $12 million this year. It’s the largest annual fundraiser for House Republicans.

Co-chairing the event will be GOP Reps. Diane Black of Tennessee and Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania, as well as Rep.-elect Roger Williams of Texas, a former top fundraiser for President George W. Bush.

“This powerhouse team, lead by Paul Ryan, will provide the leadership needed to make this annual fundraising dinner a huge success,” incoming NRCC Chairman Greg Walden of Oregon said in a statement. “I’m proud to have Diane, Mike and Roger as co-chairs on the very important mission to secure funds to grow the Republican majority in 2014.”

Shop Talk: NRCC’s Brock McCleary Joins Pennsylvania Firm

Brock McCleary is leaving the National Republican Congressional Committee and headed to his home state of Pennsylvania.

The outgoing polling director/deputy political director will begin work in January for the Harrisburg, Pa., public affairs firm Long Nyquist & Associates.

“Brock McCleary is one of the brightest political minds in the nation. For the past two election cycles, we have been impressed with his innovative ideas, use of new technology and his polling expertise,” the firm’s owners, Mike Long and Todd Nyquist, wrote in a press release.

McCleary will help with the firm’s clients within the Pennsylvania delegation, and he will also focus on building a national portfolio of political and public affairs clients.

After two cycles at the NRCC and a few other Beltway gigs, McCleary will live in his wife’s hometown of York, Pa.

Here is the other latest news from within the political industry.

Walden Taps Liesl Hickey to Be NRCC Executive Director

Walden has selected an executive director to run the National Republican Congressional Committee. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Liesl Hickey has been appointed as the executive director of the National Republican Congressional Committee for the 2014 cycle.

Newly elected NRCC Chairman Greg Walden of Oregon tapped Hickey to direct the powerful committee, which is tasked with defending a sizable majority in the next election cycle.

Hickey, 38, served as the head of the NRCC’s incumbent retention Patriot Program during the 2012 cycle, a position she was appointed to in January 2011.

“Liesl Hickey gets it,” Walden said in a statement. “She understands how Republicans can win in competitive districts. She has sharp political instincts and led our Patriot Program to help the House retain the second largest GOP majority since the 1940s. With this solid base in place, she will lead our team forward to gaining ground in 2014.”

Full story

Westmoreland Named NRCC Deputy Chairman

Westmoreland has been appointed deputy chairman of the NRCC. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia has been appointed deputy chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee for the 2014 election cycle by incoming NRCC Chairman Greg Walden of Oregon.

Westmoreland oversaw a very successful nationwide redistricting effort for the NRCC during the 2012 cycle, helping the GOP keep control of the House on Nov. 6.

The decennial redraw of maps helped push a number of vulnerable GOP-held seats into the safe Republican category, creating a map that would likely require a wave election if Democrats are to be successful in taking back the House.

“Lynn is savvy, thoughtful and a hard worker.  He knows what it takes to win elections,” Walden said in a statement.

NRCC Took Out $12 Million Loan in October

House Republicans borrowed $12 million in the waning weeks before Election Day, according to a source with knowledge of the transaction.

The National Republican Congressional Committee secured the loan in late October to help fund the final push of TV ads and boost its candidates to victory.

It’s common for the campaign committees to go into debt in a campaign year. But the NRCC’s loan is significantly smaller than the $17 million the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee borrowed in October, according to reports.

There’s some risk to taking out large sums because the committees must pay them back during the next cycle. It often takes parties months, sometimes even more than a year, to get rid of this debt. Full story

Republicans Pick Walden as New NRCC Chairman

National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Pete Sessions is passing the baton to Rep. Greg Walden, his deputy. (Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call)

House Republicans tapped Oregon Rep. Greg Walden as the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee for the 2014 cycle. Walden, who ran unopposed, succeeds Texas Rep. Pete Sessions, who oversaw two successful cycles, in which Republicans won and held the chamber.

Walden, Sessions’ longtime deputy, was magnanimous in his victory.

“Under Chairman Sessions’ leadership at the NRCC, House Republicans have won the two biggest majorities since World War II. I have big, Texas-sized boots to fill,” he said in a statement. “But as Pete’s deputy for the last four years, I’ve helped implement a shared vision for the NRCC and now seek to build on that foundation.” Full story

Walden, NRCC Fundraise Off of Pelosi News

Walden, the expected new National Republican Congressional Committee chairman, wasted little time in fundraising off of Pelosi's decision to stay as Democratic leader. (Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call)

Rep. Greg Walden, Ore., is not officially the new National Republican Congressional Committee chairman, but he is already fundraising like he is.

Walden, who is running unopposed for the post, emailed NRCC supporters Wednesday about the news that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Calif., will continue to lead the Democratic Caucus.

“So Pelosi is not going to retire — even though you and I have put her in the Minority for two straight elections,” Walden wrote. “They’re going to let the most liberal Democrat there is run the most liberal House Democratic Caucus ever…We want to send a message to former Speaker Pelosi and her far-left colleagues that America can’t afford what they’re selling.” Full story

Running Unopposed for NRCC Chairman, Greg Walden Asks for Support

Rep. Pete Sessions left, walks with Rep. Greg Walden, who is poised to succeed the Texas Congressman as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. (Bill Clark/Roll Call File Photo)

Oregon Rep. Greg Walden today wrote to his Republican colleagues, asking for their support in his unopposed bid for the chairmanship of the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Walden, a close ally of Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), has served as the deputy to outgoing NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions (Texas) for two cycles and noted Sessions’ support in his letter.

“Over the past four years, I have had the privilege to serve as Pete Sessions’ deputy as we have worked together to transform the NRCC into a member driven organization with programs that have purpose and accountability,” Walden wrote. “With Pete’s full support, I now seek to serve our conference as NRCC chairman, and I ask for your vote.”

Full story

Beyond California, Six House Races Too Close to Call

Rep. Allen West appeared headed toward defeat this morning, but his re-election race had not yet been called. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Razor-thin margins mean more than a handful of House races might not produce a winner today — or this week. There are still several races in California that have yet to be called by the Associated Press. Here are the races outside the Golden State that remained too close to call as of this morning.

• In Arizona’s 1st district, former Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D) has a 6,716-vote lead over Jonathan Paton (R), with 100 percent of precincts reporting.
• In Arizona’s 2nd district, Air Force Col. Martha McSally (R) led Rep. Ron Barber (D) by 386 votes — with 100 percent of precincts reporting. There’s an automatic recount in Arizona when the winner’s margin is less than one-tenth of a percentage point. Full story

Minnesota: Michele Bachmann Squeaks Out a Win

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) will be returning to Capitol Hill in the 113th Congress, after eking out re-election by a narrow margin against businessman Jim Graves (D).

With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Bachmann led Graves by just 3,230 votes — 50.5 percent to 49.5 percent for Graves. That’s a far less comfortable margin than Bachmann, who abandoned a presidential bid earlier this year, is used to. In 2010, she won by nearly 40,000 votes and got 52.5 percent.

In her presidential bid, Bachmann, who is a tea party hero and a lightning rod for the left, posted a surprising win in the 2011 Ames straw poll. But she dropped out of the presidential race in January, after her campaign cratered and she placed sixth in the Iowa caucuses in the state where she was born. Full story

Illinois: At Least Three GOP Incumbents Go Down

At least three GOP House incumbents lost their seats in Illinois tonight, according to Associated Press projections.

Here is a roundup of the competitive Illinois House seats as of late tonight:

Illinois’ 8th 

Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D) defeated Rep. Joe Walsh (R).

Illinois’ 11th 

Former Rep. Bill Foster (D) over Rep. Judy Biggert (R).

Illinois’ 12th

Retired Army Maj. Gen. Bill Enyart (D) defeated businessman Jason Plummer (R).

Illinois’ 17th 

Former East Moline Alderwoman Cheri Bustos (D) defeated Rep. Bobby Schilling (R).

The only outstanding competitive Illinois race is for the 10th district. Almost 99 percent of precincts were reporting, but it was too close for the AP to call. Democrat Brad Schneider is challenging Rep. Robert Dold (R). Schneider was up by 1 point as this was posted.

The race for the 13th district between Rodney Davis (R) and David Gill (D) was also too close to call.