05/29/2025
The following message needs to be shared with everyone that is a Republican Delegate -
Plan of Organization: Ensuring True Bottom-Up, Rank-and-File Representation
At the heart of any strong political party is genuine bottom-up leadership—where rank-and-file members have meaningful representation and a real voice in decisions. That is the standard Liberty First Grassroots fully support and the lens through which we must examine our current Plan of Organization, especially when it comes to representation on the Central Committee.
Currently, eight affiliate groups hold seats on the Central Committee. While other conservative groups exist, they lack formal representation. However, the justification has been that all registered Republicans in North Carolina are represented through their district chairs. If you’re a registered Republican, your district chair serves as your voice on the Central Committee.
But does this structure truly empower the rank-and-file? Let’s break it down.
If you represent an affiliate group—like the Young Republicans—you have a vote on the Central Committee. Beyond your vote, you have access to your district chair. If you also belong to other affiliates, such as the Federated Republican Women or the College Republicans, you can lobby multiple leaders in addition to your district chair. Many members belong to several affiliate groups simultaneously, which multiplies their avenues of influence.
By contrast, a rank-and-file Republican who does not belong to any affiliate group has only one channel for representation—their district chair. This gap raises important questions about fairness and the true nature of bottom-up leadership.
Is it equitable that those who join affiliate groups gain multiple voices on the Central Committee, while those who do not have just one? Moreover, affiliate group leaders are not currently bound by the same rules and accountability as district chairs. This creates a leadership tier that operates outside the Plan of Organization’s framework—contrary to the principles of transparency and accountability that should guide us.
This is why Liberty First Grassroots firmly believes that the narrative around representation needs clarity. True bottom-up leadership means empowering the grassroots—the rank-and-file—to have clear, fair, and equal representation.
If you are one of the over two million registered Republicans in North Carolina, you deserve to know that your voice is heard—not just through your district chair, but through a system that holds all leaders accountable, regardless of their position.
The new iteration of the Plan of Organization addresses this imbalance by requiring affiliate group leaders to abide by the same rules as district chairs. This is a vital step toward fairness, accountability, and genuine grassroots empowerment.
It’s important to note that the concern over affiliate leaders not being subject to the Plan of Organization arose within the Central Committee itself. For example, when the chair of the Young Republicans ran for the North Carolina House, she maintained her seat on the Central Committee—something a district chair would have been required to relinquish. This situation underscores the need for consistent rules across all leadership roles.
In summary, Liberty First Grassroots is committed to us building a truly bottom-up, rank-and-file driven party—one where every member, regardless of affiliate membership, has fair representation and every leader is held to the same standards. That is the kind of leadership that strengthens our party and honors the principles we stand for.
Respectfully,
Sue Butcher,
Founder and Director of Liberty First Grassroots
With great esteem I recognize myself as Rank and File. Let's get registered to vote on June 7th and begin accountability and oversight of the Republican Party with new leadership
Brooke McGowan for NCGOP Chair
Michael Magnanti for NCGOP Vice Chair
