Latest news with #Presler
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
MAGA Ripped Apart by ‘Grifter' Attacks After Musk Feud
In the wake of the extraordinary bust-up between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, another bitter feud has erupted between other darlings of the MAGA movement over accusations of grift, deception and betrayal. Right-wing influencers Scott Presler and Brandon Straka were once good friends, rising up MAGA ranks to become well known social media identities with millions of followers and fans between them. Presler, with his trademark long brown hair, cowboy boots and towering frame is well known in Republican circles for his voter registration drives, targeting everyone from frat boys and farmers to hunters and the Amish. Last year, his PAC, Early Vote Action, also scored a $1 million donation from Musk, helping to wrest the battleground state of Pennsylvania from Democrats. Straka, meanwhile, came to Republican fame through his campaign #WalkAway, which was launched ahead of the 2018 midterms to encourage disenchanted Democrats to leave the party. Both are gay, outspoken, and lay claim to bringing new demographics into the GOP. But according to a new report in the Wall Street Journal, things between the pair soured last month, after Straka accused Presler of being a phony who faked his voter registration success and, in turn, weakened the party's get-out-the-vote efforts. The allegations, contained in a series of social media posts as well as an audio chat posted on X last month, have divided MAGA acolytes on both sides of the tiff. 'For anybody who doesn't understand why I am calling out Scott Presler- I get it. TRULY. He duped me, too. And he duped everybody,' Straka wrote in a Facebook post on May 4. 'He blatantly lied about registering 50,000 voters in PA. He lied about 'delivering' the Amish to the polls. He raised millions of dollars based on these lies–but worst of all–he has made people believe that he has a magic formula for 'flipping' states red. 'This deception just contributed significantly to costing the Wisconsin Supreme Court election a few months ago and a Pennsylvania Senate seat that Republicans have held for 136 years. Scott told everybody he had flipped these states. It was never true.' The Daily Beast has reached out to both men, whose brawl is not the only one causing deep divisions among the MAGA movement. Straka's tirade generated thousands of responses online, many of which backed Presler or urged the pair to cast their differences aside for the good of the party. 'We need you to be reunited to fight our mutual enemy,' one woman wrote. 'I think kindness might be a better way,' wrote another. 'We need everyone on board.' Amid the Musk-Trump fallout last week, Infowars host Alex Jones also set off angry MAGA backlash by calling for Trump to address Musk's explosive allegation that the president's name appears in the Epstein files. 'Catturd,' a pro-Trump influencer with 3.7 million X followers, hit out at Jones, describing him as a 'fraud' and 'sellout' for amplifying Musk's claims. And in other corners of the internet, conservative activist Laura Loomer has been trading blows with health care entrepreneur Calley Means, the brother of Trump's pick for US surgeon general, Casey Means. Tensions spilled over last month, around the same time the Straka-Presler feud erupted, when Calley Means took to X to accuse Loomer of 'taking money from industry to scuttle President Trump's agenda.' Loomer, a conservative firebrand known to have the president's ear, fired back in a lengthy post saying Means was 'full of s–t' and a 'Never Trumper'. She also made a series of allegations against both siblings, including the suggestion that Means was paying right-wing podcasters to back his sister for surgeon general 'despite her lack of qualifications.' 'You are a PR spin master (funny how you never talk about your career in PR and crisis management) and you are threatened by my access to President Trump and the fact that White House officials called me to discuss the posts I made about your sister,' she wrote.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'The America Party': Conservative activist Scott Presler warns Musk; seeks united Republican front
Scott Presler (Image credits: X @ScottPresler) Conservative activist Scott Presler made a public appeal to Elon Musk on Saturday via X, urging the billionaire to drop any plans for a third party and instead throw his support behind a populist, pro-Trump Republican movement. In a post on X, Musk said that a new party, The America Party, is needed to represent 'the 80% in the middle,' citing overwhelming support from a poll he conducted asking whether it was time to launch a new political force. This comes in the wake of his public feud with US President Donald Trump . Presler expressed gratitude to Musk for his work on the social media platform and in states like Pennsylvania, but warned that launching a new political party would ultimately benefit Democrats. — ScottPresler (@ScottPresler) Creating another party, especially one that harkens love for America — will only take votes away from Republicans,' Presler wrote. 'This will lead to democrat majorities in the House, Senate, & White House. He noted the challenges faced by long-established third parties like the Libertarians and Greens in gaining full ballot access, despite years of organising. Even with a lot of funding, it takes time & several elections to even have a seat at the table.' he said. Instead, Presler advocated for building a 'populist Republican Party centered on an America first agenda,' pledging to support efforts to primary and defeat GOP incumbents who resist codifying Trump's policies. He concluded the message by saying he had sent Musk his phone number via direct message, adding, "Help us." Under which listed several conservative electoral reforms he believes Musk could help champion, including removing inactive voters from voter rolls, restoring in-person voting in Oregon, closing primaries to prevent Democrats from influencing GOP nominations and more. On Friday, Presler visited the greater Harrisburg area for the Pennsylvania Republican Party's annual summer meeting, where he led a training session on strengthening the GOP's voter registration efforts in the state. He emphasised the need to boost turnout for this year's statewide judicial races. Presler, founder of Early Vote Action, relocated to Beaver County ahead of the 2024 election to help register Republican voters. His efforts have been widely credited with contributing to Donald Trump's victory in Pennsylvania by over 120,000 votes last November.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man charged in deadly shooting of Lancaster County business owner
A 52-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a business owner in Lancaster County Wednesday evening. Just before 6 p.m., deputies responded to a home on Memorial Park Road, which was owned by relatives of Roger Ledell Baskins. Weeks prior to this incident, Baskins got into an argument with his family members. During that argument, Baskins pulled out a pistol and threatened one family member before firing several shots into another family member's car in the yard. According to deputies, Baskins then used a car battery to smash windows out of the car he shot, as well as another car that belonged to a third family member. However, no one was injured during this incident. Baskins left the scene on foot and was eventually spotted by family members in a yard on Willow Lake Road. He was then taken into custody. ALSO READ: No bond for man accused of robbing two people, including Morehead Social owner Witnesses at the scene told the sheriff's department that Baskins had been driving a burgundy 1997 Toyota 4Runner before arriving at the location. An inquiry into the vehicle revealed it belonged to a 65-year-old Charles Wilburn Presler from Rock Hill. At the request of local officers, Rock Hill Police Department went to the Presler address and spoke with his wife. She said she hadn't been able to get in contact with him via phone. She also said Presler operated a business on Memorial Park Road, which was a short distance from the home where the family disturbance occurred. Deputies then searched that business and found Presler deceased from a gunshot wound. He also appeared to have been robbed. When Baskins was arrested, deputies said they found a pistol in the 4Runner. An initial investigation indicates Baskins arrived at Presler's business a little over an hour after the domestic disturbance. 'We might never know what set Baskins off, but for about an hour and a half he was on a violent rampage in our community,' said Lancaster County Sheriff Barry Faile. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the murder victim's family and friends. I'm thankful Baskins' family members alerted police to his location, and I appreciate the quick action taken by the Lancaster Police Department officers who chased Baskins down and took him into custody. Our community was not safe as long as Baskins was on the run.' In connection with the homicide, Baskins has been charged with murder, armed robbery, secon- degree burglary, grand larceny of more than $2,000 but less than $10,000, three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, and possession of a firearm or ammunition by a person convicted of certain crimes. In connection with the homicide, Baskins has been charged with murder, armed robbery, second-degree burglary, grand larceny of more than $2,000 but less than $10,000, three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, and possession of a firearm or ammunition by a person convicted of certain crimes. Baskins is being held at the Lancaster County Detention Center after his bond was denied Thursday afternoon. VIDEO: 'He was a leader': Business owner killed in north Charlotte shooting
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The MAGA ‘celebrity' trying to turn New Jersey red in 2025
New Jersey Republicans are riding a high in the aftermath of President Donald Trump's gains in the blue-leaning state last November. Now, they think they have found the key to keep that momentum going as they seek to flip the governor's mansion this year: A tall, long-haired, cowboy boot-wearing, former 'stop the steal' organizer with millions of social media followers. Scott Presler, the conservative activist who runs Republican voter registration-focused PAC Early Vote Action and has built his brand around promoting Trump's false claim that the 2020 election was stolen, is focusing on the Garden State this year after spending much of 2024 in Pennsylvania. In recent weeks, Presler has crossed New Jersey to implement what he calls 'the Pennsylvania model': registering Republicans in oft-overlooked places — like gun ranges, Amish communities and fly fishing conventions — in both red and Democratic-leaning counties, and encouraging them to vote early for Republicans up and down the ballot. Presler boasts of helping Trump win Pennsylvania in 2024, a pickup that catapulted the president back to the White House. And Presler thinks New Jersey, with his help, will head in the same direction. Part of that plan? Making sure he looks 'really cute for the Shore this summer.' 'We're going to be going to the clubs, we're going to be doing beach volleyball,' the 36-year-old said in an interview with POLITICO. 'I say this very tongue in cheek, but I want to talk to as many guidos as possible, and I want to get them all registered to vote and out to vote this November.' For New Jersey Republicans, Presler's presence is a notable demonstration of buy-in from a prominent figure — especially after national Republicans eschewed the gubernatorial race in 2021, where Republican Jack Ciattarelli lost to Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy by just over 80,000 votes. It's a gap Republicans here argue they could have overcome if there was more attention from their allies in Washington. And recent registration gains for Republicans have the party bullish that they have a real opportunity to claim term-limited Murphy's seat. It isn't just Republicans in New Jersey watching, either. The state is one of two holding a gubernatorial election this year, and the results will offer an early indicator of the national mood heading into the midterm elections. Republicans hope a strong showing in New Jersey, built off of the 2024 results where Trump came six points away from winning, can push the state into purple territory. In the few instances in recent history in which a Republican won statewide in New Jersey, voters have elected mainstream Republicans who are fiscally conservative and socially moderate. But Trump's unexpectedly strong showing last year could indicate a shift among voters backing a more conservative agenda. The two leading candidates for the GOP nomination this year — Ciattarelli and Bill Spadea — have sought to emulate Trump and his policies. 'The way that I look at it is, New Jersey has been voting blue for so long, and the definition of insanity is you're repeating the same thing over and over, and you're not having success,' Presler, who does not endorse in the primary, said. 'So if there was ever a year to try something new, especially after our big win in 2024, I think this is it. … New Jersey: What have you got to lose? Try something new.' New Jersey Republicans' success this year could help prove that theory — and could lay the groundwork for such efforts in other traditionally blue-leaning states where Republicans are looking to make gains. Presler has indicated that he wants to work on Republican voter registration in states like California and New York next year. Presler spending so much time in New Jersey 'signals to a lot of people that we're taking 2025 very seriously,' said Hunterdon County Republican Committee Chair Gabe Plumer. And while Presler's voter registrations tactics could help Republicans close the gap that Democrats have held in the state, it's his persona that they see as just as much of a value add to build off Republicans' enthusiasm from last year. Presler, whom New Jersey Republican Party Executive Director Kennith Gonzalez described as 'a load of excitement' and 'such a positive person,' knows how to draw a crowd — both in person and online. Ahead of his voter registration training on a Saturday morning in late February at a VFW hall in Union County, a crowd of attendees lined up for a chance to meet him and take selfies. The same went for after his talk, when he stuck around well after it wrapped to make sure everyone got the chance to speak with him. During his presentation, which drew more than 200 people, Presler cracked jokes as he went through how to fill out a voter registration form, like how if he met former President Joe Biden, he thinks "he would go in and sniff my hair." Republican county chairs who have had him visit in recent weeks describe him as a 'celebrity' and a 'phenom' who has the 'room in his hand.' And they said that his presence has brought in crowds they have not seen at this point in past election years, including new people who otherwise have not previously engaged in Republican county events. 'His strength is bringing people to the table who we haven't met before,' Gonzalez said. Presler, who said he has so far visited 10 of the 21 counties in the state, said he has helped register thousands of Republicans in New Jersey, including older Democrats who have switched to Republican in part from hearing his talk, as well as younger people. With months to go until the primary, it's still too early to see exactly what impact Presler will have on Republicans' turnout in the closed June primary, where only registered members of the party may cast a ballot. But Republicans are emboldened by their registration gains — and Democrats' decline — even before Presler came in. As of March 1, Democrats had around 834,000 more registered voters compared to Republicans. At the same point in 2021, Democrats had an advantage greater than 1 million. And since the beginning of the year, Democratic registrations dropped by around 90,000 while Republicans went down by 30,000, due in part to voter roll cleanup. With more than 2 million unaffiliated voters in the state, Republicans are hopeful they can overcome that Democratic advantage. On X, Presler has a following of more than 2 million, where he posts reminders on upcoming elections and updates about voter registrations. Presler has caught the attention of some of the most powerful people in the Republican Party. Elon Musk, who last year donated $1 million to Presler's PAC, engages with his posts. And Presler was recently invited to the White House, where he met with Trump and Vice President JD Vance. He's also a frequent guest on podcasts hosted by those in Trump's orbit. Presler has been engaged in conservative political efforts across the country for years, including being involved with 'Gays for Trump,' organizing anti-Sharia marches in 2017, leading 'stop the steal' rallies post-2020 election and attending a rally on the grounds of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Last year, he was considered for a role in the Republican National Committee for its "legal ballot-harvesting" program, though he was ultimately passed over for the job. Like many of Trump's allies, Presler has long amplified the president's false claims that he won the 2020 election — comments that have garnered criticism from national Democrats. He prefers not to describe himself as an 'influencer,' but acknowledged the reach he has. At the Union County event, Presler implored attendees to 'help me use my platform' if they 'have something election integrity related' or 'see the Democrats doing something they shouldn't be doing' so he can share it on his social media. 'If there's a Democrat Governor Murphy spy in here, I want to make something exceptionally, exceptionally clear,' Presler said to the crowd. 'If you cheat … you will be caught and you will be prosecuted.' That's the kind of rhetoric that has been used in recent elections to motivate the GOP base — especially those who still believe falsely that the 2020 election was stolen. It could also turn off some unaffiliated voters or former Democrats who would be critical to electing a Republican governor. But New Jersey Republicans aren't worried about that, saying that Presler's message is primarily about voter registration. 'Honestly for me, that's done and old and move on,' said Union County GOP Chair Carlos Santos. 'It's time to make everybody feel that their vote actually counts and get them out to vote. … When I go to the food store and I buy two bags of food and it's $300, what's more important — to get out and vote and try to make a difference or change, or that they claim there was fraud at one time?' Presler said he will 'continue to pummel' these 'election integrity' efforts, but it's 'bread and butter' issues — like crime, property taxes and immigration — that resonate with voters. He said he thinks independent voters are also being swayed toward Republicans by offshore wind efforts, which the Trump administration has sought to halt. 'The people of New Jersey truly feel forgotten,' he said. 'These people truly feel that they are getting the short end of the stick: their businesses, they are overtaxed, their homes, they are overtaxed. They feel the economic burden.' Santos, whose Union County traditionally leans Democratic, said that after the November election, he asked Presler to come to the state to help register more Republicans. Presler had visited the state a couple of times previously, and Santos said he caught his attention because his efforts seemed 'genuine,' and he was 'not looking to get paid from it.' New Jersey Republicans have largely welcomed Presler, arguing that they can take all the help they can get in this year's high-stakes gubernatorial election. Cape May GOP Chair Mike Donohue — who is looking forward to working with Presler once the busy season starts on the Shore — said he heard some hesitancy from fellow Republicans initially due to some feelings of territorialism. But that went away, especially after Presler took the time to meet with local Republicans prior to appearing at events. Plumer, the Hunterdon chair, said that Presler did it 'the right way' to engage county chairs 'in a partnership,' rather than some national groups that come in 'and do their own thing.' Still, some local Republicans would prefer to do things their own way. Jose Arango, the GOP chair in overwhelmingly Democratic Hudson County, said that Presler is bringing enthusiasm, but he has seen impressive registrations without his help. 'He's doing a good thing — I just don't see the need in Hudson County,' said Arango. 'I give him a lot of credit, but we're successful in Hudson. I never like to change success.' Presler said he's 'not here to step on people's toes' or 'to own New Jersey,' and that he will 'go where the help is wanted.' Some Republicans are already making changes as a result of Presler's initiative. Sean Earlen, the chair of the Burlington County GOP, said he has a subcommittee working to enact the 'Presler plan,' whose main focus now is to register Republican voters at gun shops and ranges. 'When you're a county party and doing this every year, your message gets stale,' Earlen said. 'Some of the stuff he preaches we've done before, but he draws in new people.' Presler's efforts have caught the attention of some Democrats, but they aren't too worried at this point. 'I think to not be paying attention and monitoring it would be a mistake, but I'm not necessarily shaking in my boots,' said Dyese Davis, chair of the Democratic Party in Monmouth County, where Presler recently visited. And Republicans have some other reassuring signs heading into the peak of primary season. Beyond Presler, they're getting some noteworthy attention from the national party: Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley participated in events in the state last month, and RNC co-chair K.C. Crosbie spoke at the Union County Lincoln Day Dinner (along with Presler). Presler is spending time in Wisconsin ahead of this week's Supreme Court election, and continues his efforts in Pennsylvania. He is planning to continue engaging in New Jersey after Wisconsin's election, including smaller rallies to encourage Republicans to vote early ahead of the June primary. 'The biggest surprise has been how many people in a quote-unquote 'blue state' are already getting active in February and March,' Presler said. 'This in my opinion is unprecedented — the amount of energy that we've seen this early in New Jersey.'
Politico
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Politico
The MAGA ‘celebrity' trying to turn New Jersey red in 2025
New Jersey Republicans are riding a high in the aftermath of President Donald Trump's gains in the blue-leaning state last November. Now, they think they have found the key to keep that momentum going as they seek to flip the governor's mansion this year: A tall, long-haired, cowboy boot-wearing, former 'stop the steal' organizer with millions of social media followers. Scott Presler, the conservative activist who runs Republican voter registration-focused PAC Early Vote Action and has built his brand around promoting Trump's false claim that the 2020 election was stolen, is focusing on the Garden State this year after spending much of 2024 in Pennsylvania . In recent weeks, Presler has crossed New Jersey to implement what he calls 'the Pennsylvania model': registering Republicans in oft-overlooked places — like gun ranges, Amish communities and fly fishing conventions — in both red and Democratic-leaning counties, and encouraging them to vote early for Republicans up and down the ballot. Presler boasts of helping Trump win Pennsylvania in 2024, a pickup that catapulted the president back to the White House. And Presler thinks New Jersey, with his help, will head in the same direction. Part of that plan? Making sure he looks 'really cute for the Shore this summer.' 'We're going to be going to the clubs, we're going to be doing beach volleyball,' the 36-year-old said in an interview with POLITICO. 'I say this very tongue in cheek, but I want to talk to as many guidos as possible, and I want to get them all registered to vote and out to vote this November.' For New Jersey Republicans, Presler's presence is a notable demonstration of buy-in from a prominent figure — especially after national Republicans eschewed the gubernatorial race in 2021, where Republican Jack Ciattarelli lost to Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy by just over 80,000 votes. It's a gap Republicans here argue they could have overcome if there was more attention from their allies in Washington. And recent registration gains for Republicans have the party bullish that they have a real opportunity to claim term-limited Murphy's seat. It isn't just Republicans in New Jersey watching, either. The state is one of two holding a gubernatorial election this year, and the results will offer an early indicator of the national mood heading into the midterm elections. Republicans hope a strong showing in New Jersey, built off of the 2024 results where Trump came six points away from winning , can push the state into purple territory. In the few instances in recent history in which a Republican won statewide in New Jersey, voters have elected mainstream Republicans who are fiscally conservative and socially moderate. But Trump's unexpectedly strong showing last year could indicate a shift among voters backing a more conservative agenda. The two leading candidates for the GOP nomination this year — Ciattarelli and Bill Spadea — have sought to emulate Trump and his policies. 'The way that I look at it is, New Jersey has been voting blue for so long, and the definition of insanity is you're repeating the same thing over and over, and you're not having success,' Presler, who does not endorse in the primary, said. 'So if there was ever a year to try something new, especially after our big win in 2024, I think this is it. … New Jersey: What have you got to lose? Try something new.' New Jersey Republicans' success this year could help prove that theory — and could lay the groundwork for such efforts in other traditionally blue-leaning states where Republicans are looking to make gains. Presler has indicated that he wants to work on Republican voter registration in states like California and New York next year. Presler spending so much time in New Jersey 'signals to a lot of people that we're taking 2025 very seriously,' said Hunterdon County Republican Committee Chair Gabe Plumer. And while Presler's voter registrations tactics could help Republicans close the gap that Democrats have held in the state, it's his persona that they see as just as much of a value add to build off Republicans' enthusiasm from last year. Presler, whom New Jersey Republican Party Executive Director Kennith Gonzalez described as 'a load of excitement' and 'such a positive person,' knows how to draw a crowd — both in person and online. Ahead of his voter registration training on a Saturday morning in late February at a VFW hall in Union County, a crowd of attendees lined up for a chance to meet him and take selfies. The same went for after his talk, when he stuck around well after it wrapped to make sure everyone got the chance to speak with him. During his presentation, which drew more than 200 people, Presler cracked jokes as he went through how to fill out a voter registration form, like how if he met former President Joe Biden, he thinks 'he would go in and sniff my hair.' Republican county chairs who have had him visit in recent weeks describe him as a 'celebrity' and a 'phenom' who has the 'room in his hand.' And they said that his presence has brought in crowds they have not seen at this point in past election years, including new people who otherwise have not previously engaged in Republican county events. 'His strength is bringing people to the table who we haven't met before,' Gonzalez said. Presler, who said he has so far visited 10 of the 21 counties in the state, said he has helped register thousands of Republicans in New Jersey, including older Democrats who have switched to Republican in part from hearing his talk, as well as younger people. With months to go until the primary, it's still too early to see exactly what impact Presler will have on Republicans' turnout in the closed June primary, where only registered members of the party may cast a ballot. But Republicans are emboldened by their registration gains — and Democrats' decline — even before Presler came in. As of March 1 , Democrats had around 834,000 more registered voters compared to Republicans. At the same point in 2021 , Democrats had an advantage greater than 1 million. And since the beginning of the year, Democratic registrations dropped by around 90,000 while Republicans went down by 30,000, due in part to voter roll cleanup . With more than 2 million unaffiliated voters in the state, Republicans are hopeful they can overcome that Democratic advantage. On X, Presler has a following of more than 2 million, where he posts reminders on upcoming elections and updates about voter registrations. Presler has caught the attention of some of the most powerful people in the Republican Party. Elon Musk, who last year donated $1 million to Presler's PAC, engages with his posts . And Presler was recently invited to the White House , where he met with Trump and Vice President JD Vance. He's also a frequent guest on podcasts hosted by those in Trump's orbit. Presler has been engaged in conservative political efforts across the country for years, including being involved with ' Gays for Trump ,' organizing anti-Sharia marches in 2017 , leading 'stop the steal' rallies post-2020 election and attending a rally on the grounds of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Last year, he was considered for a role in the Republican National Committee for its 'legal ballot-harvesting' program, though he was ultimately passed over for the job . Like many of Trump's allies, Presler has long amplified the president's false claims that he won the 2020 election — comments that have garnered criticism from national Democrats. He prefers not to describe himself as an 'influencer,' but acknowledged the reach he has. At the Union County event, Presler implored attendees to 'help me use my platform' if they 'have something election integrity related' or 'see the Democrats doing something they shouldn't be doing' so he can share it on his social media. 'If there's a Democrat Governor Murphy spy in here, I want to make something exceptionally, exceptionally clear,' Presler said to the crowd. 'If you cheat … you will be caught and you will be prosecuted.' That's the kind of rhetoric that has been used in recent elections to motivate the GOP base — especially those who still believe falsely that the 2020 election was stolen. It could also turn off some unaffiliated voters or former Democrats who would be critical to electing a Republican governor. But New Jersey Republicans aren't worried about that, saying that Presler's message is primarily about voter registration. 'Honestly for me, that's done and old and move on,' said Union County GOP Chair Carlos Santos. 'It's time to make everybody feel that their vote actually counts and get them out to vote. … When I go to the food store and I buy two bags of food and it's $300, what's more important — to get out and vote and try to make a difference or change, or that they claim there was fraud at one time?' Presler said he will 'continue to pummel' these 'election integrity' efforts, but it's 'bread and butter' issues — like crime, property taxes and immigration — that resonate with voters. He said he thinks independent voters are also being swayed toward Republicans by offshore wind efforts, which the Trump administration has sought to halt . 'The people of New Jersey truly feel forgotten,' he said. 'These people truly feel that they are getting the short end of the stick: their businesses, they are overtaxed, their homes, they are overtaxed. They feel the economic burden.' Santos, whose Union County traditionally leans Democratic, said that after the November election, he asked Presler to come to the state to help register more Republicans. Presler had visited the state a couple of times previously, and Santos said he caught his attention because his efforts seemed 'genuine,' and he was 'not looking to get paid from it.' New Jersey Republicans have largely welcomed Presler, arguing that they can take all the help they can get in this year's high-stakes gubernatorial election. Cape May GOP Chair Mike Donohue — who is looking forward to working with Presler once the busy season starts on the Shore — said he heard some hesitancy from fellow Republicans initially due to some feelings of territorialism. But that went away, especially after Presler took the time to meet with local Republicans prior to appearing at events. Plumer, the Hunterdon chair, said that Presler did it 'the right way' to engage county chairs 'in a partnership,' rather than some national groups that come in 'and do their own thing.' Still, some local Republicans would prefer to do things their own way. Jose Arango, the GOP chair in overwhelmingly Democratic Hudson County, said that Presler is bringing enthusiasm, but he has seen impressive registrations without his help. 'He's doing a good thing — I just don't see the need in Hudson County,' said Arango. 'I give him a lot of credit, but we're successful in Hudson. I never like to change success.' Presler said he's 'not here to step on people's toes' or 'to own New Jersey,' and that he will 'go where the help is wanted.' Some Republicans are already making changes as a result of Presler's initiative. Sean Earlen, the chair of the Burlington County GOP, said he has a subcommittee working to enact the 'Presler plan,' whose main focus now is to register Republican voters at gun shops and ranges. 'When you're a county party and doing this every year, your message gets stale,' Earlen said. 'Some of the stuff he preaches we've done before, but he draws in new people.' Presler's efforts have caught the attention of some Democrats, but they aren't too worried at this point. 'I think to not be paying attention and monitoring it would be a mistake, but I'm not necessarily shaking in my boots,' said Dyese Davis, chair of the Democratic Party in Monmouth County, where Presler recently visited. And Republicans have some other reassuring signs heading into the peak of primary season. Beyond Presler, they're getting some noteworthy attention from the national party: Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley participated in events in the state last month, and RNC co-chair K.C. Crosbie spoke at the Union County Lincoln Day Dinner (along with Presler). Presler is spending time in Wisconsin ahead of this week's Supreme Court election, and continues his efforts in Pennsylvania. He is planning to continue engaging in New Jersey after Wisconsin's election, including smaller rallies to encourage Republicans to vote early ahead of the June primary. 'The biggest surprise has been how many people in a quote-unquote 'blue state' are already getting active in February and March,' Presler said. 'This in my opinion is unprecedented — the amount of energy that we've seen this early in New Jersey.'
