New California Republican Leaders

Flash Report: On California’s most significant news:

California will be the center of the political universe in 2012 when it comes to deciding control of the House of Representatives. The Democrats’ strategy is clear: push for big margins of victory for President Obama in heavily Democratic states like New York, Illinois and California, and recruit good House candidates to ride the wave into Congress.

Here in the Golden State, we have 10 or more House districts in play for the first time in modern history. Nancy Pelosi has her eyes on California’s Central Valley, the Central Coast, the Bay Area, the Inland Empire and San Diego for her ticket back into the Speaker’s office.

I’m backing Elizabeth Emken as our candidate for the United States Senate in California because she is far and away the strongest candidate to lead our ticket together with our Republican candidates for President and Vice President.

In ten years as a party chairman in California and San Diego, I’ve met all kinds of candidates for every kind of public office. Elizabeth Emken is one of the sharpest, most engaging, and impressive candidates I’ve seen.

In “Courage and Consequence,” Karl Rove observes that the higher the office, the more likely the voters will get to see the candidates for who they really are. The U.S. Senate is the second highest office that will appear on the November ballot, and the more voters get to see Elizabeth Emken, the better it will be for our party, and our downticket candidates.

Elizabeth with 19 year-old son Alex

Emken’s combination of business and charity experience is exactly what I want to see in a statewide candidate. Let’s be clear: the Democrats have a playbook for tearing down Republican business candidates as heartless and lacking compassion. It’s hard to do that with a candidate who has been a national leader for Autism Speaks and commits her time to helping others cope with the intense challenges autism creates.

Personally, I get most excited about a candidate when I see he or she is personally compelling, sharp, and can serve as a skillful advocate for Republican ideas. Elizabeth Emken possesses all of these traits and is very impressive. When you have the opportunity to meet her, I bet you’ll be equally impressed.

California needs a farm team of leaders who will serve as powerful voices for Republican solutions in the years ahead, and have the ability to work with the entire team today. There is no magic potion or spell that will create California’s statewide team overnight. We have to build it — candidate by candidate, election to election. And Elizabeth Emken will be a superstar on that team.

You can learn about Elizabeth Emken’s compelling story and her solid issue positions on her website. I know she has the right combination of unique attributes and skills that truly put her in a league of California Republican leaders who can and will lead a Golden State Republican Revolution. I hope you’ll take this opportunity to learn more about Elizabeth and join me in supporting her as our Republican choice for the United States Senate.