The Republican Party is improving in its outreach to minority voters, and up-and-coming Republicans "really get it," according to Republican strategist Ellen Carmichael on the CNN podcast "Party People."
"I think we're getting it more than we did in the past," Carmichael said.
She added that Indiana Rep. Todd Young, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, and Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson are among the success stories in reaching minority voters and the impoverished.
"This one is a little bit of a surprise to people. Sen. Ron Johnson is absolutely incredible on this," she said, noting his charity, the Joseph Project, which helps transport inner-city workers to their jobs.
Republicans must not overlook non-white voters, she said, pointing out House Speaker Paul Ryan's support from former gang leader, now social activist, Antong Lucky.
"Look at what Paul Ryan has been able to do. There are former Bloods and Crips in Dallas who would fight tooth and nail for Paul Ryan to be president of this country, and that's because he shows up."
The GOP needs to focus advertising in minority communities and spend time there, Carmichael said.
"People might roll their eyes or scoff when Republicans make earnest attempts at outreach in these groups, but it shouldn't stop us from doing it. Because these people — they're smart — they can tell the difference and insinuating they can't is kind of racist in a way."
Questions about minority outreach extend within the Republican Party as well. Within party ranks, Republicans of color who opposed President-elect Donald Trump are questioning their future in the party, according to Mother Jones.
"If that is the future of the Republican Party — if it's going to be protectionism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and discriminatory acts from voting rights to policing — if that's what it's going to be, then I'm having no part of that whatsoever," black GOP strategist Charles Badger said.
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