Reps. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, (right) and Russell Fry, R-S.C., participate in a House Judiciary Committee markup on the Border Security and Enforcement Act of 2023 and other legislative issues, held at the Rayburn Building on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (Image credit: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
May 16, 2024 Story by: Editor
Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, leads the charge in a bid to attract Black voters, particularly Black men, to the Republican camp following former President Trump’s unexpectedly strong showing among this traditionally Democratic demographic in 2020. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Hunt describes Trump’s resonance with Black men as a “phenomenon” and sees a ripe opportunity for the GOP to court a new generation of voters by meeting them on their own turf.
“We need to fish where the fish are,” Hunt explains, emphasizing the party’s historical absence in Black communities. “I’ve been Black my whole life, man… and it dawned on me that whenever you look around, you don’t see any Republicans actually taking what we want as a party to the Black community.” Source: Foxnews
Hunt’s solution involves a series of events dubbed “Congress, Cognac, and Cigars.” Over the summer, he plans to host dialogues targeting Black men residing in minority-majority cities in swing states, aiming to elucidate how Republicans intend to address issues pertinent to all Americans.
The inaugural event, slated for Tuesday, June 4th in Philadelphia, will feature a discussion between Hunt and Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., with Michele Tafoya, former NFL sideline reporter, serving as moderator. Similar gatherings are scheduled for Atlanta, Ga., Detroit, Mich., Milwaukee, Wisc., Charlotte, N.C., and other pivotal locations ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
This initiative gains momentum amidst recent polls indicating a decline in support for President Biden among minority voters. Surveys conducted by the New York Times, Siena College, and the Philadelphia Inquirer suggest Trump holds an edge in five of the six key battleground states where he narrowly lost to Biden four years ago. Of particular note is Biden’s diminishing lead among Black voters, which, if reflected in the election results, could mark the highest level of Black support for a GOP presidential candidate in generations.
Hunt asserts that the political tide is shifting in favor of Trump and the Republicans. “President Trump in 2020 got 18.2% of the Black male vote. That’s almost 20%,” he highlights, citing exponential growth compared to previous elections. He attributes this trend to Biden’s perceived shortcomings, particularly in addressing issues such as inflation and the border crisis, which disproportionately affect minority communities.
The sentiment is echoed by Fox News political analyst Gianno Caldwell, who emphasizes the imperative for Republicans to engage with Black communities actively. Caldwell concurs with Hunt’s assessment that the Democratic Party’s hold on the Black vote is weakening amidst rising living costs and concerns over resource allocation for illegal immigrants.
Matt Shupe, a Republican communications strategist, advocates for a broader outreach strategy, applauding Hunt and Donalds’ efforts to engage with traditionally Democratic-leaning demographics. While not an official program of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), Hunt’s initiative aligns with the NRCC’s broader objective of expanding the party’s outreach to minority voters.
Despite the uphill battle in winning over constituencies historically aligned with the Democratic Party, Hunt remains optimistic about incremental progress. He emphasizes the emergence of a new generation of Republicans, untethered to the legacies of past injustices, and champions a narrative of meritocracy and fairness embodied by the GOP.
In Hunt’s view, this shift represents the essence of the modern Republican Party — one that champions equal opportunity and rejects the divisive politics of its Democratic counterpart.
