HELENA – Hard-line conservatives seeking strict adherence to core principles lost their bid to put an ally in charge of the Montana Republican Party, as the GOP instead chose a candidate Friday who promised to appeal to a broader audience.
The Montana GOP elected executive board member Will Deschamps of Missoula as party chairman for the next two years. He promised to gather Republicans of all stripes to the party in hopes of gaining votes in tough districts.
He was seen by party stalwarts as a pragmatic choice to maintain balance, raise money and develop a winning election strategy. They touted him as the experienced choice. Deschamps, involved in local Republican politics in a Democratic stronghold, said he has learned the GOP needs to open its doors.
“Come to Missoula and find out why. ‘My way or the highway’ doesn’t work,” Deschamps said. “We are right on the ideas that resound with Montana voters; we just need to craft it so they listen to us.”
Deschamps said core GOP platform issues remain the same, from limited government to opposition to abortion.
In some ways, the choice was more about style and emphasis over political philosophy.
Defeated in the race for chairman was Rick Breckenridge, a backer of Ron Paul’s primary bid a year ago. He ran unsuccessfully on a promise to hold the GOP to its platform and fight what he termed the “militant homosexual agenda,” pro-abortion advocates and others.
A similar battle for the identity of the GOP — between moderates and those seeking a hard commitment to core issues — has been taking place on the national stage.
Breckenridge said the party platform, and its promise of limited government, should be upheld as a standard for lawmakers to adhere to — without any compromises.
“It’s not going to be inclusive,” said Breckenridge, who opened his nominating speech with a prayer. “Don’t try to enlarge the party by trying to be all things to all people when you can’t keep promises.”
The party would not release a tally of the vote, although backers of Breckenridge believed it was close.
State Sen. Verdell Jackson of Kalispell said the Republican Party is not conservative enough for the base. He pointed to John McCain’s failed bid last year, and believes his failure to attract the core to the polls hurt Republicans down the ballot.
“Across Montana, John McCain was the last choice for Republicans,” Jackson said. “They just stayed home.”
He called Deschamps the pick of the “good ol’ boy network.”
All Republicans seemed to agree the party needs to invigorate itself. Democrats control all statewide office from governor on down and both U.S. Senate seats. The GOP was regularly outspent in state elections last year.
The GOP does boast the state’s lone U.S. House seat, held by standard bearer Denny Rehberg. And Montana was one of the few states where Republicans picked up state legislative seats.
The Republicans believe there will be a backlash to the policies Democrats are advancing in Washington under President Barack Obama.
Rep. Bob Lake of Hamilton nominated Deschamps, saying he would do a good job of recruiting candidates capable of capitalizing.
“We are sitting at one of the most critical times in U.S. and Montana history,” he said. “We need a leader who understands the challenges.”
Deschamps said he would reach out to Breckenridge and his backers, promising them a seat at the table.
Keeping with the theme of continuity, the party re-elected former vice chairwoman Lianne Johnson to the post. Johnson had been filling in as chairwoman since Chairman Erik Iverson stepped down six months ago to take a private-sector job.
Former Gov. Judy Martz offered a pep talk at a luncheon. She said her one term as governor was at times trying, but worth it. Republicans can win by remaining true to themselves, she said.
“We need to pull our chairs up to the table and be bold in what we believe in,” Martz said.