GOP women's convention session focuses on Independent voters, young Republicans
Female voters across the country are angry, frustrated and scared and they are searching for connection and for candidates who will listen to those concerns, a trio of political consultants said Saturday.
Political consultants Amanda Lovino, Emily Lampkin and Ellen Walter spent Saturday afternoon conducting a workshop for about 300 members of the National Federation of Republican Women on how political candidates and their organizations could expand their reach and connect with more female voters.
For Lampkin, Walter and Lovino, the workshop was a chance to help train grassroots organizers and develop new ways to reach younger voters. The workshop was part of the NFRW’s convention, held this weekend in Oklahoma City. Organizers said more than 1,000 delegates attended the three-day event.
Speaking at the workshop, Lampkin urged campaign groups to see women as individuals who need information. “Remember as women, we are not a monolith,” Lampkin said.
While those women who identify with a particular political party already have a connection to a campaign, independent female voters, Lovino said, are harder to reach.
“They don’t really like the bluster,” Lovino said. “There’s just a lot of very negative emotions in politics right now and Independents are very tired of that. They kind of just want to see an adult in the room. They want someone who is going to be there to talk about the issues and work hard and not just stand up in front of every microphone just to yell things.”
Those independent voters, she said, are also affected by the tone of the message.
Along with issues and tips on how candidates and their campaign can better their messages, Saturday’s workshop focused on how NFRW chapters could ‘expand their circle’ – that is, bring in new, younger voters.
One method, Lampkin said, was to be fun and welcoming.
“If you want someone to come (to an event) you have to make it fun and easy,” she said. “And when we’re talking about younger women, women who have different schedules, your events need to be at night and they need to not be 40 hours long.”
A good campaign event, she said, is flexible and can accommodate working mothers with kids.
“You need to expect that somebody is coming from the soccer field,” she said. “Like dropping off a kid. We’ve got to feel like that’s cool. They’re looking to meet someone new and to learn something new.”
Lampkin also urged women’s groups to reach out to minority communities and women of lower incomes.
“We need to do a better job of reaching out to women of modest means,” she said. “I always make sure there is a woman of modest means who I’ve invited to be a co-host with me.”
Walter said grassroots groups should also work to make their events fun in an effort to reach younger women. Women, she said, like to have fun. “We don’t have a lot of them when we get together. You want it to be fun.”
Community service events, Walter said, are great ways to bring newer, younger voters into existing groups.
"Look and see if there's a community event. Find a foodbank. Take an hour and help load boxes of food. You show up all together, you're doing something good for others," she said. "People love to say Republicans don't care about the hungry or the homeless. But we're compassionate. You are and you care about others. You care about your community."
The group also pushed delegates to embrace technology such as Zoom or other networking tools to connect with supporters and activists who aren't located close by. Technology and simple events, such as a pot luck dinner or an outdoor social event can help energize voters and bring in new people.
"The goal is to connect," Lampkin said. "The best candidates listen to voters and respond to what they are are talking about and they provide that information about issues that they will address and that are important to voters.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: NFRW convention workshop focuses on Independent voters, young Republicans
