First, thank you again for all your hard work on what has been a very successful caucus and convention season at the BPOU and CD level!
We are excited about the state convention in Rochester, and I fully expect we will emerge from our convention with great endorsed candidates and a stronger party.
Leading up to the convention the topic of primary challenges comes up frequently. Let me say that if it comes to a primary, I believe strong endorsed candidates backed by a strong and unified party will do great as they historically have. While obviously it is better if we avoided primary battles and came out of the convention focused on our real opponents, primaries are not to be feared. The biggest reason for that is you.
Our party units, officers and delegates have demonstrated their commitment repeatedly. I know each of you and your districts will work hard for our endorsed candidates. And after a down period for Republicans, the way to avoid primaries is to prove at the ballot box that we are strong. It starts by rallying together at our convention!
There is also discussion about the proper response of party units and officers to situations involving primary challengers. I want to be clear that your vote is a matter of individual conscience, both at conventions and in the voting booth. However, the job of party units and their leadership is to assist endorsed candidates. In response to some specific questions, here is a reminder:
1. Endorsed candidates will receive full access to Data Center for their geography upon their endorsement, while un-endorsed candidates do not. Their prior list agreement for delegate lists expires after the endorsing convention.
2. Once an endorsement is granted, our endorsed candidates have access to and are featured at subsequent conventions, party meetings, booths at fairs, and other GOP events. Those who lost the endorsement or did not seek it and afterward declare for the primary, do not. At the state convention, primary challengers to endorsed BPOU and CD candidates, and their campaign representatives, will not be granted access unless in an individual capacity as a delegate and not campaigning or identifying themselves as a candidate in any way.
3. Party leaders (officers, chairs, and executive committee members at all levels) agree by virtue of accepting their position to support only endorsed candidates. As a matter of mutual respect and for the integrity of the party and all involved, if party leader chooses to support a candidate running against the endorsed candidate in any primary, they should first resign their party position unless that party units constitution or bylaws provide otherwise. After the primary, they can pursue regaining their former position in accordance with the party unit's process.
And then after the primary, it is incumbent on all of us to put it behind us, come together and fully support the partys general election candidates to pursue the goal we all share victory in November!