RSLC Launches “Right Leaders Network” to Enhance Efforts to Grow Future of the Republican Party

Advisory Council to be led by Senators Marsha Blackburn, Marco Rubio, and Tim Scott, Congresswomen Ashley Hinson and Young Kim, Governor Kim Reynolds, and Former U.N. Ambassador and Governor Nikki Haley

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Republican State Leadership Committee announced today the launch of the Right Leaders Network, a redoubling of its long-standing efforts to do its part to grow the Republican Party with more women and minority candidates and elected officials. Through the RSLC’s Right Women Right Now and Future Majority Project initiatives, the committee over the past decade has recruited, trained, supported, and elected thousands of diverse state Republicans across the country, many of whom went on to serve in statewide and federal offices. The Right Leaders Network will both enhance and grow the committee’s recruiting and training capabilities thus far, and allow for:

• Prioritizing electing more women, as well as candidates from communities of color and diverse backgrounds.
• Engaging former state leaders, who now hold high federal or state office, to serve as mentors for the next generation of Republican leaders.
• Growing partnerships with aligned Republican organizations who share the same mission.

“The Republican State Leadership Committee has long served as the tip of the spear for the continued efforts to grow the Republican Party at the state level,” said RSLC President Dee Duncan. “While our programs have been extraordinarily successful, we know that much work––and many challenges––remain ahead of us. We are incredibly proud of the collection of trailblazers who have agreed to participate in the Right Leaders Network and I know they will be critical in our continued mission to elect candidates all across the country that better represent the communities they serve.” 

The Right Leaders Network will be led by chairpersons representing each of the RSLC’s four caucuses (RLCC, RLGA, RSSC, Ag America) and an advisory council comprised of former state leaders who later served, or are currently serving in higher office. These advisory council members will help the RSLC continue to highlight how building the party must start in the states, as 21 of 50 current Republican U.S. Senators served in state office, 104 Republican U.S. House members served in state offices, and 10 out of 27 Republican governors previously served as lieutenant governors. This advisory council will: 
 

• Assist the RSLC in efforts to recruit, train, and support diverse candidates to run for state office.
• Participate in updates with donors and other elected officials to discuss the progress the RSLC is making in electing diverse candidates to the state level.
• Promote the work and success of the Right Leaders Network in national and state media.

The enhanced structure the new chairpersons and advisory council members will bring to the RSLC will bolster two successful recruitment and training programs currently in place at the committee. 

• Right Women Right Now – This program, which has been the cornerstone of the RSLC’s recruitment and training of women for the last decade, will remain under the same name under the Right Leaders Network umbrella.
• The Majority Project – Previously known as the Future Majority Project, the new name of this program better reflects the incredible strides that it has already made in electing candidates from communities of color and diverse backgrounds. It will be featured under the Right Leaders Network umbrella as well.

Advisory Council

Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn

Florida Senator Marco Rubio

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott

Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson

California Congresswoman Young Kim

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds

Former U.N. Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley

Chairs  

New Hampshire state Representative Joe Alexander

Ohio state Senator Niraj Antani

New Mexico state Representative Kelly Fajardo

Hawaii state Representative Val Okimoto

Florida Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez

North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose 

West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt

“The future of the Republican party starts with the work of organizations like the RSLC that are committed to winning the tough races and ensuring we hold the line against radical Democrats in Washington. I am confident that the RSLC and my colleagues involved in the Right Leaders Network will help provide state Republicans with the resources they need to win elections and best serve the people in their states.” – Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn 

“The Republican Party is expanding like never before, and we are becoming a multi-ethnic, multi-racial coalition of hard-working Americans who love their country. But winning in the next decade will require more than just the right policies. It will also require leaders who understand the challenges of the communities they represent. Serving as a state legislator provided some of the best political and policy lessons I’ve ever learned, and with the support of the RSLC, we will build our bench of dynamic leaders to prepare them to lead the future of the party.” – Florida Senator Marco Rubio

“The Republican Party stands for opportunity for Americans of all backgrounds, and we are strongest when our candidates and leaders look like America. Through the Right Leaders Network, the RSLC is making investments in growing our big tent with the next generation of commonsense conservative leadership that makes our nation strong.” – South Carolina Senator Tim Scott

“Republican state leaders play a key role in charting the course for the future of the conservative movement. The RSLC helped me build the foundation for a successful run for state office and the lessons I learned from working with them helped me in my congressional campaign. Through the RSLC’s Right Leaders Network we will be able to work together to encourage more Republicans to get engaged so we can build the future of our party.” – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson. 

“I always say the GOP is the Grand Opportunity Party. Our record at the state and national level in 2020 of electing so many women, minorities, and veterans, is proof our party is focused on pro-growth policies that help Americans from all backgrounds succeed. I’m proud to see the RSLC expand their initiatives to elect leaders that will empower people to pursue their American Dream,” – California Congresswoman Young Kim. 

“Serving as lieutenant governor prepared me to lead successfully as Iowa’s first female governor. Strong Republican leadership in the states is more important than ever right now, and the RSLC has put together a great recruitment and training network to ensure we build on the successes of 2020 and continue winning in the future.” – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. 

“As we continue to fight back against DC Democrats’ failures, Republicans at the state level offer hope and solutions. I am proud to be part of the RSLC’s efforts to recruit and train diverse candidates to run for state office who will build the bench for the next generation of conservative leaders.” – Former U.N Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley

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