Report: RNC shuts down most Hispanic community centers promoted during 2022 campaign
Republicans Face Setback as Majority of Hispanic Community Centers Close
As national Republicans gear up for the 2024 cycle and prioritize reaching out to Hispanic Americans and other minorities, they are encountering a significant setback: the closure of most of the Hispanic community centers that were launched during the last election cycle.
During the 2022 cycle, twenty community centers were opened, but now only five remain operational, with two of them having been opened in 2023, according to the Messenger. The closures have been confirmed by the Republican National Committee (RNC).
The RNC explained that its budget is tied to the chair’s term. Therefore, when Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel’s term ended in 2022 and all leases expired, it made sense to seek new locations for some of the community centers in the current cycle, as stated by the RNC to the Messenger.
Despite the closures, there are plans to reopen centers in key swing states such as Las Vegas, Nevada; Tucson, Arizona; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Allentown, Pennsylvania. Currently, the five open centers are located in New York, California, and Texas. However, the RNC has ambitious plans to open 40 community centers in various Hispanic, Asian Pacific, black, Native American, Jewish communities, as well as areas with large populations of veterans.
“Democrats have taken the Hispanic community for granted for far too long. No amount of money spent will change the fact that Biden is a disaster for our community, from the economy to the border and rising crime,” emphasized Jaime Florez, RNC Hispanic communications director. “Republicans will continue to make historic investments in Hispanic voter outreach, from opening more community centers to launching ‘Deposita Tu Voto’, that will further our gains with Hispanic voters and deliver Republican victories in 2024.”
However, some Hispanic voter groups are skeptical of the RNC’s plans to reopen community centers. Daniel Garza, executive director of LIBRE Initiative, a grassroots conservative group, cautioned that the closure of the centers serves as a lesson about the importance of testing experiments before implementing them on a larger scale.
“In this case, they went big, and it sounds like they didn’t receive the response from the community they intended,” Garza remarked. “That’s okay. They tried, and we appreciate that. But you need to have people on the inside who can advise you. These are long-term initiatives that require sufficient resources.”
Those who closely collaborate with Hispanic communities assert that effective outreach relies on long-term investments and intentional programming, rather than relying on short-term efforts for a few months.
Republican sources suggest that the closure of the community centers may be attributed to the party’s financial difficulties resulting from a decline in donations and funding. According to Federal Election Commission reports reviewed by the Washington Post, the RNC had the lowest amount of cash on hand since February 2015, with $9.1 million in November of last year. The RNC, however, dismisses the notion that finances played a role in the closure of the centers.
On the other hand, Democrats boasted double the amount of cash on hand during the same period, with $17.7 million. President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign and other Democrats have been actively working to win back Hispanic voters who have drifted away from the party. Exit polling from the 2022 midterm elections revealed that while black, Hispanic, and Asian and Pacific Islander voters generally leaned towards Democrats, Hispanic and Asian support for the GOP increased by 10 and 17 points, respectively. Black voters also shifted towards the right by 4 points.
Despite the setbacks, the national GOP remains committed to its Bank Your Vote campaign and its Spanish-language equivalent program, Deposita tu Voto, in order to engage Hispanic voters for the 2024 election.
Some of the community centers will be relocated, such as the McAllen, Texas center, which will be replaced with a new location in Edinburg. Democrats argue that the closure of the centers after only a few months contradicts the Republicans’ promise of establishing lasting and meaningful relationships with the Hispanic voting bloc.
“That makes sense because they said they had a presence in San Antonio, but we never saw them really doing anything with the center,” commented Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX). “We won more races in Bexar County in 2022 than we’ve won in 40 years.”
The Washington Examiner has reached out to the RNC for comment.
What challenges and limitations did the Republican National Committee face in reopening community centers after the change in leadership?
Political gain. Community centers provide a valuable space for fostering connections, providing resources, and engaging with the Hispanic community on important issues.
The closure of the majority of Hispanic community centers comes as a setback for Republicans who aimed to make inroads with Hispanic voters. The 2022 cycle saw the opening of twenty community centers, a significant investment in reaching out to minority communities. However, the expiration of leases and the end of Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel’s term led to the closure of most of these centers.
The Republican National Committee has acknowledged the closures and stated that their budget is tied to the chair’s term. This means that with the change in leadership, it was necessary to seek new locations for some of the community centers. While there are currently only five operational centers, the RNC has plans to reopen centers in key swing states and other areas with significant minority populations.
Despite the setback, Republicans remain committed to Hispanic voter outreach. Jaime Florez, the RNC Hispanic communications director, emphasized the party’s dedication to making historic investments in Hispanic communities. This includes not only community centers but also initiatives like ‘Deposita Tu Voto’ aimed at furthering gains with Hispanic voters and securing Republican victories in the 2024 elections.
However, some Hispanic voter groups express skepticism about the RNC’s plans to reopen community centers. Daniel Garza, the executive director of the LIBRE Initiative, a grassroots conservative group, points to the closure of the centers as a lesson in the importance of testing initiatives before implementing them on a larger scale. Garza suggests that long-term initiatives require sufficient resources and the guidance of individuals who understand the needs and dynamics of the community.
Effective outreach to Hispanic communities goes beyond short-term efforts. It requires long-term investments and intentional programming. Community centers provide a platform for engagement, connecting with voters, and addressing important issues that affect the community. While the closure of many Hispanic community centers is a setback for Republicans, it also serves as a reminder of the importance of sustained and meaningful engagement. Moving forward, the Republican Party must learn from this experience and ensure that future initiatives are well-researched and supported by adequate resources to effectively connect with and serve the Hispanic community.
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