(The Center Square) - More than 300 people gathered Saturday night for the Yakima County Republican Party's annual Lincoln Day Dinner, but party chairman Matt Brown said the real work begins now, working to turn that energy into ballots returned in November.
“Enthusiasm doesn't count. Returned ballots count,” Brown said in an interview with The Center Square after the event.
Brown, who also serves as Yakima's mayor, said conversations with attendees at the event focused largely on Washington state issues rather than national politics.
He said public safety, the cost of living and frustration with the state government were among the issues attendees discussed.
“But nobody was just venting,” Brown said. “They wanted to know what to do next and how to help.”
The dinner, held Sept. 19 at the Yakima Convention Center, is the Yakima County Republican Party's annual Lincoln Day event. The party describes it as its premier annual fundraising and fellowship event.
For Brown, the goal now is voter turnout.
“Turnout is everything,” he said. “Our job now is to turn that energy into returned ballots.”
Washington's August primary had a statewide turnout of 36.77%, with 1,892,873 ballots counted out of more than 5.1 million eligible registered voters.
The November general election is scheduled for Nov. 3, with ballots set to be mailed beginning Oct. 16.
Brown said the party plans to spend the time between now and Election Day reminding voters to participate.
“We'll be working every day to remind people to vote,” Brown said. “The countdown is on.”
Turning enthusiasm into ballots
Lawanda Hatch, a Franklin County resident who attended the dinner, said the event reinforced her enthusiasm heading into the election.
For Hatch, one of the biggest takeaways was the importance of local party organizations helping voters understand the candidates and issues on the ballot.
“It really told us what we need to be doing this next year as Republicans,” Hatch said. “I felt very encouraged.”
Hatch said some Republican voters aren't sure who to support.
“The one thing I found that keeps Republicans at home is not knowing who to vote for,” she said.
She said county parties can help by researching candidates and communicating that information to voters through methods including text messages, mailers and door-to-door outreach.
Hatch said she also believes events such as the Lincoln Dinner can help energize people heading into an election.
“Everyone is ready to get to work,” she said.
Brown said the party's challenge is making sure that energy doesn't disappear once attendees leave the convention center.
“Vote by mail means Election Day isn't one day anymore,” Brown said. “It's a three-week window, and life gets in the way.”
He said the party will encourage voters to act early rather than wait until the final days before the election.
Statewide ballot measures
Several statewide initiatives will also give voters issues to decide on in November.
The Secretary of State has certified three statewide measures for the Nov. 3 ballot. They include IP26-645, an initiative concerning the state's income tax; IL26-001, concerning parental rights relating to children in public schools; and IL26-638, concerning participation in K-12 athletics based on biological sex.
Brown identified those measures as major areas of interest among Republican voters at the dinner.
"Without question,” Brown said. He also said taxes were one of the most frequently discussed concerns he heard from attendees.
“Taxes, taxes, and more taxes,” he said.
He specifically cited concerns about the state's income tax and argued that voters are already dealing with higher costs for necessities such as gas, groceries and housing.
Brown said the dinner demonstrated that there is enthusiasm among the party's base. The remaining question is whether that enthusiasm translates into participation.
“Being fired up at a dinner is great,” Brown said. “Being counted in November is what changes things.”