Weekly Update from the Chair
I know you join me in mourning the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham, who died suddenly last evening from a “sudden illness”. South Carolina will hold a special election on August 11th to name the replacement Republican candidate for the US Senate ballot in November. The South Carolina Republican governor will make a temporary appointment to fill his remaining term of office. We continue to monitor the Health of Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, with little information being released regarding his condition. Pray for both of these families during these difficult times.
I had hoped to start the update this week with some good news, but the passing and health of our US Senators required a more urgent message. That being said, it gives me great pleasure to announce that the Haywood County Republican Party has secured a new space for our headquarters. Special thanks to Terry Ramey and Sherry Lewis for locating the property and negotiating an affordable monthly rent. The lease was signed on Friday, and an occupancy inspection will be completed on Monday. Once all is clear, we can move in and start conducting business! The new location is in the Waynesville Plaza 136-B. It is a beautiful, visible space, and plans are in the works for a huge grand opening celebration, street fairs, hot dog roasts, and many other fun events to engage the community, spread the message of our party, and, more importantly, get our Republican candidates elected!
All hands and bodies are needed this week to pack up and help move! There’s much to sort through and quite a bit to sell or trash. I plan to be at the old headquarters tomorrow by 11 am to start the process. On Tuesday, I have to take my husband to Asheville for a medical appointment and won’t be available until the afternoon. That shouldn’t stop progress, though. On Wednesday, I’ll be there from 11 am until 3 pm; on Thursday, from 8 am; and on Friday, from 11 am until I can no longer move both days. Most of you are more familiar with things and know what needs to be saved and what can be disposed of. If your fingerprint has not been entered in the lockbox, contact me, and I will issue you a code to access the key. The plan is to load everything on Friday evening or Saturday morning and take it to the new facility. We need the Young Republicans to offer their strength and manpower to make this happen. If you know of any able-bodied young adults willing to help, please put them in touch with me or with Joshua Mashburn. If anything in headquarters belongs to you personally, please make arrangements to remove it before Friday.
This will be a busy week in spite of moving! On Thursday, July 16th, former U.S. Senate candidates Don Brown and Andy Nilsson are bringing their “Fire Up the Base – 2026” to the Bay Breeze Restaurant in Hendersonville. This is a rally to excite the MAGA base to support GOP candidates and vote in November. They are travelling throughout the state, and the Haywood GOP needs to support this cause!
On July 18th, U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley will be at the Waynesville Rec Center from 2 pm to 4 pm. The Rec Center is located at 550 Vance Street. This is your opportunity to meet with him, address your concerns, and learn what a truly compassionate, caring human being future Senator Whatley is! There is no charge for this event!
On July 24th and 25th, the Haywood GOP will host a booth at the Hillbilly Jam at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. We need people to man the booth from 10 am until 10 pm on Friday and Saturday. We need help on Wednesday, the 22nd, to set up. Any amount of time you can volunteer is appreciated, but we ask that you commit to 2-hour shifts. With an expected 30,000 people projected to attend, this is an incredible opportunity to spread our message, inform people that the upcoming election is critical, to finish the ballot when they vote, meet candidates, get campaign literature, make donations, and buy merchandise. Your assistance is needed to make this a success!
Last Thursday, we were honored to have District 11 Chairwoman Merry Guy for a training session. She shared insights on how we’re going to win this election in November with the “Just 10 More” campaign. If you were unable to attend this event, we will hold another training session once we get settled in our new facility. Anyone who wishes to serve as a precinct chair or administrator can contact me for additional information. We have several unorganized precincts, and the new State Plan of Organization allows for an administrator who lives outside of the precinct. With 29 precincts, we have a great deal of territory to cover!
Whew! I’m sure you’re as breathless as I am by now! I told you that we have some busy, exciting things in our future!
God bless you!