In mid-December, a call was put out in Washington's King County to attend an inaugural chapter meeting for a new GOP caucus. On Jan. 10, a group of more than 25 grassroots Republicans gathered to usher in the King County Republican Liberty Caucus.
As an "action caucus," the Republican Liberty Caucus seeks to work within the Republican Party to promote its ideals of individual rights, limited government and free enterprise among party members and candidates.
The RLC has made a national name for itself as the go-to organization for Ron Paul supporters in the Republican Party. Its first chairman in King County, Matt Dubin, was the Washington state grassroots chair of the Ron Paul presidential campaign. However, it's a home for many more according to Dubin.
[The RLC] is equally a natural home for Tea Partiers and conservatives who believe the Republican Party is at its best when it is the unequivocal voice for limited, constitutional government, free markets and personal responsibility.
It should be noted Matt Dubin lost by a coin toss to become one of King County GOP's new State Committeemen, showing growing support already in the party for the principles of the RLC.
It's no secret the GOP has its work cut out for itself in Seattle's liberal King County. Dubin feels the RLC may be the recipe for change the Republicans have been waiting for.
I think there are a tremendous number of fiscally conservative, limited government voters in Seattle who feel completely disconnected from the Republican Party. Some of these voters hold their noses and vote Democrat. Others feel so disenfranchised that they just disregard the electoral process.
The answer? Restoring the GOP to its "traditional party message of limited, constitutional government, free markets, personal freedom and responsibility," according to Dubin. This is the RLC's M.O.
I absolutely believe that if we can restore the King County Republican Party to a “big tent” based on respect for these principles, we will attract thousands of new voters and party members from the Seattle area.
Becky Washam, secretary for the King County Republican Liberty Caucus sums it up: "We believe that the RLC of King County will be the exact shot in the arm our county and state need to see some true change in the future."
The initiation of the King County RLC follows in the footsteps of other county chapters opening across Washington state. The first annual Washington state RLC chapter meeting will be held Jan. 26 in Yakima, Wash.
The 2012 election may have ended, but political activists across the country are still busy at work, gearing up for future fights.
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