Wishing you a joyous Christmas filled with warmth, laughter and cherished moments with friends and family. However you celebrate I sincerely hope your Christmas be Merry and Bright.

As we come together to celebrate, let us also reflect on the profound significance of this occasion—the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose arrival brought forth grace and salvation. The season is indeed joyous if for no other reason than, it reminds us of Christ's presence in our lives.

Unfortunately, this year there won't be the usual celebrations in the Holy Land. Instead, there is insecurity, fear and grief. Let us pray for peace and reconciliation and for those who have lost innocent loved ones. May the transformative power of the peace and love preached by Jesus reach the hearts of those in need across the troubled lands of Israel, Ukraine and around the world.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

2024 Republican National Convention Volunteer Information

The MKE 2024 Host Committee is seeking volunteers for the upcoming Republican National Convention, as well as numerous events leading up to it. Click the link below to register your contact information and get on the volunteer list!

Bidenflation is the Grinch Who Stole Christmas

This holiday season Americans will pay more for just about everything thanks to Bidenflation. 

What you need to know:

• Americans expect to spend more on Christmas or other holiday gifts than they have in two decades.
• This year’s Christmas price index – which calculates the price of gifts from the classic “Twelve Days of Christmas” – jumped another 2.7% after a 10.5% hike last year.
• The average price of a Christmas tree is up 10% from last year, with shoppers likely to shell out between $80 to $100.
• U.S. holiday sales are expected to rise at its slowest pace in five years as Americans are likely to pull back on holiday shopping.
• 74% of Americans say inflation will cause them to buy fewer holiday gifts this year.
• Almost 2 in 5 Americans indicated they would be buying less expensive gifts.
• 55% plan to take on debt to cover holiday shopping.
• A third of Americans are choosing to skip presents altogether due to financial pressures.
• 31% of Americans are working extra hours or taking on a side gig to afford their purchases.
• Families are facing steeper prices to travel to see loved ones over the holidays.
• Domestic round-trip flights for Christmas are up 29% compared to 2019, with many international destinations even higher.
• Gas prices sit at $3.08 per gallon, remaining $0.70 higher than before Biden took office.
• 77% of Americans traveling for leisure during the holidays are likely to change their plans due to Bidenflation, according to a Bankrate survey.
• With groceries up 20.3% since Biden took office, cooking a holiday meal will be costlier.
• The price of ham is up 6.8%
• Eggnog is up 24%
• Price of cookies for Santa is up 2.1%
• Along with a more expensive holiday, heating costs this winter are also expected to burn a hole in Americans’ wallets. 
• Nearly half of Americans say their charitable giving has been affected by inflation.
• Data shows there have been fewer food donations this holiday season.
• Charitable giving is at a three-decade low.
• This holiday season is “make or break for a lot of local businesses” who have struggled to compete with big-box stores and online retailers.

The bottom line:

Americans are feeling economic strain this holiday season and voters know Joe Biden’s reckless policies are to blame.

Anti-Democratic Election Interference in Colorado

The left-leaning Colorado Supreme Court has made an irresponsible ruling against President Trump disqualifying him from being on the primary ballot in the state. This is election interference and the RNC will fight to make sure our voters choose our nominee. 

As Chairwoman McDaniel said, "The same party that claims they want to 'save democracy' wants to let noncitizens vote while disenfranchising millions of voters. They don’t want to “save democracy,” they want to stop it from happening." 

What you need to know:

• The RNC will continue fighting this Colorado case up to the United States Supreme Court. We are confident that SCOTUS will agree with us and that Donald Trump will be on the ballot in Colorado and every other state.
• The RNC has filed briefs in court to fight this exact kind of interference in Minnesota and Michigan in addition to Colorado. Our arguments have been successful in Minnesota and Michigan, where Donald Trump remains on the ballot. 
• The opinions of courts and government bureaucrats should not outweigh the voice of the Republican electorate as to who the Republican candidate should be.
• This is the kind of election interference that drives down faith in elections.
• Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment was meant to exclude ex-Confederates from occupying office after the Civil War. There are numerous legal arguments for why it does not apply to Donald Trump.
• Using the Fourteenth Amendment in this way is just the latest episode of partisan “lawfare” aimed at Donald Trump.
• The RNC has a strong record of engaging in legal actions that promote transparency and fairness in elections. This is just another example of Republicans going to court to defend American voters.
• While the RNC does not support any one Republican candidate, we would extend this same defense to any other member of the field.

The bottom line:

Whichever candidate Republican voters nominate will be a better president than Joe Biden, but it is up to the voters to make that decision of who our Party nominates.

The RNC is fighting this election interference in court because the Republican presidential candidate should be decided by Republican voters, not courts or government officials. The RNC and its partners will continue supporting its field of Republican candidates, pushing back on election interference, and empowering Republican voters to make their own decisions at the ballot box.

RNC Research

• Bidenomics Hits The Holidays

Fact Check Biden

• Biden's Lies Have Broken Student Loan Borrowers

What We're Reading

• Fox News: RNC bashes Biden for 'unaffordable' holiday costs in festive new attack ad (Elizabeth Elkind, 12/19/2023) 

• Fox News: McDaniel: Biden is the Grinch who stole Christmas by using Bidenomics (RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, 12/18/2023)

Thank you for allowing me to continue to serve you as your Texas Representative to the RNC! As always, feel free to reach out to me with any questions you might have at tad@toniannedashiell.com, or follow me on Facebook or Twitter at the links below. Thank you for being a strong Texas Republican, and together, let us work to Keep Texas RED!