Republican National Committee Teams With Radio One/TV One to Court Black Voters

The Republican National Committee, in partnership with black media outlet Radio One (No. 9 on the BE 100s Industrial/Service list with $485 million in revenues) and TV One (No. 22 on the BE 100s Industrial/Service list with $149.5 million in revenues), has launched a new initiative to engage and mobilize black voters across the country in advance of the November 2016 presidential election. The campaign kicks off this week in Ohio and includes a series of engagement activities, issue forums and events in communities of color where the RNC is actively engaged and using Radio One’s platform.

The campaign, called “#CommittedToCommunity: Engage, Empower, Uplift,” which caters specifically to a black and urban audience. In addition to participating in several Radio One-hosted events such as the Heritage Concert Series and Women’s Empowerment Conference, RNC staff will also be present at churches throughout Ohio highlighting issues of particular concern to black voters that include job creation, education opportunities, strong families and safe communities.

This initial phase of the multi-city initiative will begin with faith-based outreach in Columbus on July 12 and will end on August 6, the date of the first GOP presidential primary debate, which will be held at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

The campaign is part of an ongoing effort by the national Republican Party to recruit black and urban voters, who in recent history generally have heavily favored Democratic candidates. Orlando Watson, the RNC’s communications director for black media, says Republicans want to capitalize on interest in the presidential debate and the Republican National Convention, which will be held in Cleveland the week of July 18, 2016.

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