Republicans urged to adopt Democratic grassroots playbook for lasting victories

After years of working on campaigns at every level, the writer concludes that the Republican Party’s primary weakness is not financing but a deficient grassroots framework. She cites a 2019 Democratic “Texas 2020” guide that outlines how to embed organizations in key counties, provide community services, and cultivate local advocates over multiple years. In contrast, GOP campaigns focus on high-cost media, polling and consulting, leaving volunteers to operate with inadequate tools and data.

The author urges major donors to redirect funds toward building permanent local networks, hiring experienced organizers, and supplying usable technology well before election season. She warns that continuing the current approach will keep Republican volunteers overburdened and elections costly, while Democrats will keep leveraging trusted community relationships to win. The call to action includes specific questions for donors about how much money reaches grassroots efforts and whether the investments create lasting political infrastructure.