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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Sources have provided REAL News Michiana with an email sent by St. Joseph County GOP Chair Tyler Gillean to GOP candidates facing primary challengers, warning the candidates to play clean or pay the consequences.
“I want to thank all of you for having the courage to sign up to run for office. I did it before and know what you are going through at the moment. It’s a stressful and difficult time in your life where you make a lot of sacrifices in treasure and time.” Gillean starts out stating in the email before getting ot the point. “If anyone, or their surrogates go negative in this primary campaign against a fellow Republican, I will come out strong against the offender. I will deploy every resource within my power against that campaign. If anyone has problems with this you can call me directly, take this as your only warning.”
This is fairly new territory for the St. Joseph County GOP, which has seen astronomical growth in the past several years. Several GOP seats are set for heated primary races, including two County Council seats and one County Commissioner position.
Gillean makes it clear in his email that the real fight for the party is with the Democrats, not fellow Republicans.
“You all are very bright and talented individuals who bring unique perspectives and groups to the party – which continues to grow. But you will treat each other with respect, the energy should be saved for the general election against the real threat: Democrats.” Gillean wrote.
REAL News Michiana reached out to Chairman Gillean for comment and if he was referring to any specific race.
“I figured this email would get around.” Gillean said. “We are in uncharted territory as a party. In years past, the GOP would have to beg people to be candidates. Now, we have a pool of qualified individuals lining up to serve their community. It’s my job to ensure we keep the peace.”
“For the first time in decades we have a full countywide ticket.” Gillean added.
Gillean’s full email can be read below.
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Good on him. Let’s keep the primaries about substance, policy prescriptions and the future. Let all the better candidates win… Then, we demolish the Democrats by using their own rules & tactics.
[…] GOP Chair: Go dirty in a primary, face the consequences […]
[…] chair of the St. Joseph Republican Party, Tyler Gillean, is now taking an unprecedented step. He recently sent a letter to all Republican candidates declaring war on Republican […]
The downside to this is if there is a good reason to be negative about a candidate.
For example if we have somebody who is effectively a plant like Nikki Haley but on a more local level.
It happened in 2020 when an anti-police transgender Satanist was the GOP nominee for Sheriff in New Hampshire.
Sure you can try to wordsmith your way around it so as not be overtly negative. But if Tyler felt the need to send that email he probably would not be too kind to attempts to bend the rules.
Plus why would you need that memo if there was no negative things that could be said.
I appreciate the comment — I personally agree with the email 100 percent. This was addressing a certain issue without pointing fingers directly at one person. Lies were being spread. Misinformation was being put out — all on our own side. It was disgusting and needed to stop. A “clean” campaign does not mean you cannot put out accurate, contextual information. The lies and deceitful shit is a problem.