WEDNESDAY ROUNDUP: New Leadership Edition

Are things beginning to settle down?

Over the last 24 hours, leadership voids at both the local and national level have been filled. As things settle down, we can hope that new leaders at all levels will work to reform our broken systems rather than return to business as usual.

Last night the Ada County Republican Central Committee met for a special meeting to replace the six officers who resigned in September. None of the positions were contested, so the new officers were all confirmed by acclimation of the committee. The new officers are:

• Chairman Thad Butterworth

• 1st Vice Chair Ryan Spoon

• 2nd Vice Chair Sue Gaston

• 3rd Vice Chair Scott Cleveland

• Treasurer Sue Hoffer

• State Committeewoman Cheryl Hurd

From left: Hoffer, Hurd, Spoon, Butterworth, Cleveland, & Gaston. Photo by Daniel Murphy

They join Secretary Colette Costello, State Committeeman Mike Hon, and State Youth Committeeperson Ashley Mujagic who were elected in May 2022.

I look forward to seeing the new leadership in action. In the six months between now and the next reorganization meeting, they will be responsible for promoting Republican candidates this Election Day, raising money for 2024, managing the presidential nomination caucus next March, and preparing for the 2024 state convention in Coeur d’Alene. The proof in the pudding is in the eating.

As I write this, it appears the House of Representatives has elected Congressman Mike Johnson of Louisiana as Speaker. I had never heard of Johnson before yesterday, but Theo Wold vouched for him on Twitter so that’s good enough for me.

Charlie Kirk laid out some reasonable expectations for House Republicans moving forward:

MY ADVICE TO SPEAKER MIKE JOHSON:

Set the right expectations immediately.

The GOP doesn't have the Senate or the White House. It can't deliver all the policies we wish it could. So instead, focus on changing the process, rather than simply policy.

Announce that the new Congress will be working longer hours in Washington, instead of going into recess at every opportunity. Work weekends, like regular Americans have to when there's work to be done. Zero days off from now till 12/31.

We can't demand a win on every issue. So make your plans clear early. Announce in advance what issues you're ready to work with Democrats on, and which ones you are going to demand concessions on.

My recommendation: The most important issue is the border. It has to be fixed, or nothing else matters.

Announce that the House will be passing separate spending bills, instead of the same bloated continuing resolutions. Start with the least controversial, and work your way toward the stickier issues. Then follow through so that the left can't accuse Republicans of holding Social Security or veterans hostage as part of our negotiations on Ukraine or the border.

If we're honest about our plans, and follow through on them, the GOP will show that it is capable of governing, and it will be clear to the American people where they differ with the Democrats.

The first step toward reclaiming power is to show that you deserve it.

Finally, congratulations Mr. Speaker. We're glad to have you.

Then there are former leaders who are outraged that voters had the audacity to replace them in the Legislature. An anti-conservative group called Idaho Liberty PAC has allocated nearly $50,000 to attack Sen. Tammy Nichols, Sen. Brian Lenney, and Rep. Chris Trakel. An example of their work has been making the rounds online this week:

Chris Trakel is a veteran himself, serving honorably before defeating IACI golden boy Greg Chaney in the last election. This borderline-libelous publication wants you to think that because Trakel voted against some bloated government spending bills that he opposes police and veterans. You see how this works, right?

Senator Lenney, also targeted by this slanderous PAC, explained it well this morning:

Let's clear up a common misconception about voting "No" on a budget bill.

A lot of folks think that if you vote against a budget, you're against the organization it funds.

That's not always true!

When you vote "No," you're basically saying, "This budget needs some fine-tuning." It's like sending your steak back to the kitchen because it's not cooked right—not because you hate the place.

In Idaho's big-spending culture, it's more important than ever to keep an eye on liberal spending habits. When a budget bill seems packed with unnecessary expenditures, outpaces inflation, or unnecessarily grows government, voting "No" means you want to send it back to the Finance Committee to get reworked.

This means we need to keep an eye on the folks who vote "Yes" on every single budget bill without question! It's like agreeing to eat whatever the chef throws on your plate without even tasting it.

You're basically giving a free pass to waste, bloat, and inefficiency.

So, when a conservative votes "No," we're not against schools, roads, or public safety. Most of the time, we're saying, "Let's get this right. Let's make sure every dollar counts."

Remember how most legislators think their job is to manage the system by moving your money around the bureaucracy rather than attempt any serious reform. Powerful special interests are throwing a lot of money against good legislators like Brian Lenney and Chris Trakel because they were some of the few with the courage to stand up and say “no!”

Finally, it is time to vote for mayors, city council members, school board trustees, and other important local positions. If you are still curious about races in Eagle, Boise, or Meridian, check out the Gem State Substack voter’s guide before filling out your ballot.

I’ll be back with more soon. Remember that you can support this platform directly by upgrading to a paid subscription, but I appreciate each and every one of you. Thank you!