– REDISTRICTING STEERING COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE STRATEGIC ADVICE –

ALEXANDRIA, VA – Heading into a pivotal year for Republicans at all levels of government, Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) Chairman Ed Gillespie, and Vice-Chairman Tom Reynolds announced the creation of the REDistricting MAjority Project (REDMAP), a program of the RSLC dedicated to winning state legislative seats that will have a critical impact on redistricting in 2011.

Joining RSLC-REDMAP, headed by RSLC Vice-Chairman Tom Reynolds, are current leaders in the Republican redistricting effort who will serve as senior advisors on the RSLC-REDMAP Steering Committee.  These advisors will provide added insight and advice on key redistricting fundraising and political issues across the country.  The senior advisors are:  Former Tennessee United States Senator and Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman William “Bill” Brock, former RNC Chairman Mike Duncan, former North Carolina Congressman Robin Hayes and former Regional Political Director and Chief of Staff for the RNC Anne Hathaway.

The four were active in the formulation of the American Majority Project (AMP) which was started to help state legislative races around the country that would effect congressional redistricting and decided that joining their efforts with the RSLC would have the most impact.

“2010 is already shaping up to be a strong year for Republicans up and down the ballot all across the country,” said Reynolds.  “Bill Brock, Mike Duncan, Anne Hathaway, and Robin Hayes all bring a remarkable depth and insight to strengthen the RSLC in its mission of winning the first redistricting battles of 2011.”

“We’re thrilled to join the RSLC team and are excited about combining our ideas about redistricting with the proven success the RSLC has had on state races to ensure future GOP victories,” Duncan said.

“The RSLC’s record of success in winning the increasingly important down ballot state races is well established,” said RSLC Chairman Ed Gillespie.  “The RSLC has set itself apart from any other national political organization with the ability to help Republicans win state legislative races and gain control of key state legislative chambers across the country.”

“As a former state legislator, I understand how hard it can be for good Republican candidates to have the resources they need to win in these important races,” said former North Carolina Congressman Robin Hayes.  “The RSLC has been working tirelessly to help recruit, train, and elect Republican legislators across the country for 7 years – I look forward to helping them in that mission in 2010.”

The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) is the only national organization whose mission is electing Republicans to the office of Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State and State Legislator. In 2009, Republicans swept all three statewide offices in the Commonwealth of Virginia for the second time in state history and increased the Republican majority in the House of Delegates by six seats.  In addition, since late 2008, Republicans have won 47 special elections for the state legislature from New Hampshire to Washington State and in every region of the country.  During the 2008 elections, the RSLC helped maintain the number of Republican Attorneys General and Lieutenant Governors; and delivered new Republican majorities in the Montana, Oklahoma and Tennessee state senates, as well as an unprecedented majority in the Tennessee House of Representatives.  The RSLC has over 80,000 donors from all 50 states.