# MEMORANDUM **To**: Delaware Republican Base **From**: Concerned Republican Advocates **Date**: April 29, 2025 **Subject**: Moving Beyond the Turnout Myth – A Call for Real Results in Delaware ## Purpose This memorandum addresses the claim by some Republican leaders that the 75% voter turnout in the 2024 General Election represents a victory for our party in Delaware. We respectfully counter this narrative, urging our base to recognize that high turnout without electoral wins is not a success. Our goal is to refocus our efforts on achieving tangible results in future elections. ## Background: The 2024 Election in Delaware Delaware remained solidly blue in the 2024 General Election, with Democrats sweeping all statewide races. Despite a national red shift, our party lost the governor’s race and a seat in the state house. Voter registration numbers highlight our challenge: 354,327 Democrats, 209,744 Republicans, and 230,755 others. Turnout rates were 75% for Republicans, 67% for Democrats, and 53% for others. While our turnout was strong, it did not translate into victories, raising questions about the claim that it constitutes a win. ## The Flawed Narrative: Turnout as Victory Some leaders argue that our 75% turnout reflects successful mobilization and a win for Republican efforts. This perspective is misleading for several reasons: 1. **Turnout Alone Does Not Win Elections** High voter turnout is a tool, not a triumph. Success is measured by winning races and gaining representation. Despite 75% turnout, we lost the governor’s race and a state house seat, and we failed to secure any statewide offices. Celebrating turnout without results ignores the disconnect between voter enthusiasm and electoral outcomes. 2. **National Momentum, Not Local Leadership** The 75% turnout likely stemmed from the national presidential election’s momentum, which drove a red shift across many states. There is no clear evidence that Delaware-specific leadership efforts uniquely boosted our turnout. Claiming credit for a national trend overstates our state party’s impact and distracts from needed improvements. 3. **Democrats Achieved More with Less** Democrats, with a 67% turnout, won every statewide race and gained a state house seat. Their smaller turnout was more effective, highlighting their superior strategy or voter alignment. Our high turnout, while impressive, was inefficient, as it failed to close the gap created by our smaller registration base (209,744 vs. 354,327 Democrats). ## The Reality: Losses Demand Reflection The 2024 results tell a clear story: - **No Wins, Only Losses**: Losing the governor’s race and a state house seat shows that our turnout did not translate into voter support for our candidates. - **Registration Disadvantage**: With 144,583 fewer registered voters than Democrats, even high turnout cannot overcome the numerical gap without persuading independents or Democrats. - **Ineffective Conversion**: Our votes did not yield competitive margins, suggesting issues with candidate appeal, messaging, or campaign strategy. Touting turnout as a win risks misleading our base and fostering complacency. It obscures the need to address why we failed to convert strong turnout into electoral success. ## Moving Forward: A Call to Action To build a stronger Republican Party in Delaware, we must shift our focus from turnout metrics to electoral results. We propose the following steps: 1. **Close the Registration Gap**: Aggressively recruit new Republican voters and engage the 230,755 independent voters to expand our base. 2. **Strengthen Candidate Appeal**: Invest in candidates who resonate with Delaware’s blue-leaning electorate while staying true to our values. 3. **Refine Messaging and Strategy**: Develop campaigns that address local concerns and compete effectively in a Democratic stronghold. 4. **Measure Success by Wins**: Hold leadership accountable for electoral outcomes, not just turnout percentages. ## Conclusion The 75% turnout in 2024 is not a victory when we lost key races and a state house seat. As Delaware Republicans, we deserve leadership that prioritizes real results over feel-good metrics. Let us unite to demand strategic change, grow our base, and fight for wins in future elections. Together, we can make the Republican Party a competitive force in Delaware.