Upcoming Events and Updates

�� Upcoming Events & Key Dates

 May 28 – Reviving the Stanislaus County Republican Assembly

MCRA will be meeting with local residents at 5:00 PM at Round Table Pizza on Geer Rd. in

Turlock.

If you’re able, please attend—and encourage friends or family in Stanislaus County to join us.

 June 28 – RPMC’s First Fundraiser: The Reagan/Trump Freedom Gala Dinner

This is our flagship event—please purchase your tickets soon at mercedgop.com, under the

“Events” tab.

 July 4 – Atwater Booth & Potential Westside Booth

MCRA will host a booth at Atwater’s Independence Day celebration. We need volunteers!

I would also like to set up a second booth on the west side of the county. Please reach out

if you can help.

 September 13 – MCRA’s Lincoln/Reagan Dinner

Another major event—volunteers are needed here as well. Mercedrepublicans.com

�� Organizational Goals & Internal Updates

 Next Chapter to Revive: Madera CRA

Know anyone in Madera County who may be interested in joining or helping lead the Madera

CRA Chapter? Let me know.

 MCRA Board Elections – January 2026

Positions up for election (1-year terms):

 President

 Vice President

 Secretary

 Treasurer

 Media Director

 Membership Director

Please start thinking about your interest in serving—this won’t be a surprise at year’s end.

 RPMC Central Committee Structure

These are 4-year political appointments. Associate Members serve 1-year terms and are the

only members who pay dues. We currently have open seats in several districts.

✅ Committees Needed

 Endorsement Committees (3–5 members each for RPMC & MCRA)

We will begin forming these in June:

 RPMC: Start June 10

 MCRA: Start June 12

Each group has its own standards and process—we’ll collaborate when needed.

 Voting Guide Committee

We’ll need two partisan voter guides:

 One before the June 2026 Primary

 One before the November 2026 Midterm Election

A consolidated committee of 2 members from RPMC and 2 from MCRA (minimum of 2

total) will oversee this.

 Office Space Search

With the 2026 Gubernatorial Race ahead, we’ll need a shared Republican office in Merced

County.

If you know of available space—preferably with a conference room—please reach out.

�� Outreach

MCRA’s Speaker Series (2nd Thursdays) is a great opportunity to engage our community.

Please invite your pastors and priests—our churches are filled with voters who share our

values.

Let’s become more dynamic, visible, and effective as Merced County Republicans. We have

much to offer—let’s make sure our community knows it.

Thank you all for your dedication.

In liberty,

Gene Johnson

President, MCRA

The Party of Common Sense

Gene Johnson, April 24th 2025

The Republican Party carries a branding problem. Say "Republican," and people picture old, grouchy white men. Say "Conservative," and they think of rigid, out-of-touch religious zealots. These labels are outdated relics, yet they persist because, to some degree, they still describe us—or at least, how the world perceives us. But the Republican Party isn't just one entity. It's two. On one side, you have the tired, antiquated RINO establishment—more concerned with their own careers than the citizens they claim to represent. On the other, the bold, unapologetic MAGA movement, the party of President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, the Democrats have mastered the art of reinvention, slapping on new labels whenever it suits

them. And they succeed. The Republican Party, too, has flirted with rebranding—the Tea Party, for example. But President Trump and the RNC may have stumbled upon the perfect name: Common Sense. Think about it. Who doesn’t want to be associated with Common Sense? It’s not just hard to attack—it’s something everyone believes they already have. It cuts through the noise of left vs. right, making it easier for independents and disillusioned voters to find their home within the GOP. If we embrace this shift now, we might just reshape the future of the party and bring more Americans into the fold. Why let the Democrats control the narrative? Let’s get ahead of it. Let’s be the Common Sense Party. If

the Democrats steal this moniker and use it, the democrats will point our Republicans, MAGA, and conservatives don’t have Common Sense. While we certainly know Democrats Socialist, Progressives and Communists certainly lacks this trait.

The idea of using “Common Sense” as a rebranding strategy has merit. It’s broad, non-threatening, and appeals to a fundamental value that most Americans believe they possess. Unlike “Republican, "or Conservative,” which can carry baggage and alienate, “Common Sense” is an approachable and persuasive term. However, the challenge would be getting institutional buy-in. Would the RNC and state parties embrace it, or would it just become another faction like the Tea Party? If executed well, this could be a powerful shift. But it would need a strong, unified push to ensure it doesn’t just fade into a slogan without substance.

Ideas: nicknames to our Names. For use on ads, flyers, social media.

Merced County of Common Sense Women - Republican Women of Merced County

Merced County Common Sense Assembly - MCRA

Common Sense Party of Merced County - RPMC