FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 7, 2023
As conservatives, we take pride in our commitment to preventing government overreach and
promoting small government.
However, a small faction within the GOP is now proposing a rule change called the “Accountability
Rule” at this year’s convention, June 10, 2023.
Their aim is to eliminate the current process that allows ordinary Republicans, who are willing to
uphold conservative principles, to run for public office as a Republican resulting in their opportunity
to be elected by their local constituents during the primary.
Instead, they want to centralize this decision-making power at the state level. To put this into
perspective, there will be approximately 1,500 delegates at the State Convention. In the 2022
Republican Primary, a total of 1,204,742 votes were cast. This means that we are allowing only
0.12% of all Republican voters in the state to determine the qualifications of candidates.
This Accountability Rule could result in one tenth of one percent of self-described
Republicans deciding worthiness of a candidate deciding to run as a Republican rather than allowing
the Republican voters as a whole to make the decision.
Additionally, this rule does not ensure the best candidate will be put forward. Rather, it promotes
those considered ‘pure’ on one, maybe two issues, absent consideration of all other attributes that
make a candidate desirable and electable, to be the worst candidates overall.
This is an absurd notion, and such thinking and overreach should raise concerns. In essence, this
proposal is more like a “Guarantee Rule”.
This rule guarantees minimal competition in primary races, favoring candidates who are willing to
align themselves with a select few individuals. Let’s be honest, not all 1,500 delegates will
thoroughly vet every candidate across the state; instead, a few delegates in each area will put forth
names.
This rule guarantees power, manipulation, and corruption by a select few, enabling them to advance
their agenda, regardless of the harm it may cause to the party’s long-term prospects.
Most importantly, this rule guarantees centralized control, stripping everyday voters—the
individuals who form our communities and cast their votes—to have a say in choosing their
representatives.
The Cherokee County Republican Coalition firmly opposes the Guarantee (Accountability) Rule and
encourages the delegates to the convention to vote against it.