TEMECULA: The fight to keep the Inland Empire red continues. The Democrats are encroaching on the once solid Republican community. In the 2016 election, they took over Riverside County's conservative voters in registration for the first time in years.

This was a wake-up call to local Republican leaders like Jonathon Ingram.Chairman of the Riverside County Republican Party who is determined to take back the county.

"This is not a game," said Ingram. "We need to balance the powers in Sacramento. We do this through growing the voter registration."

Ingram moved from Los Angeles to Murrieta to escape the Democratic stronghold. He has a background in construction and developing and elected to Murrieta City Council in 2014.

 In an effort to grow the Republican Party in Riverside County including Southwest Riverside, a new office was opened in Temecula. 

  A ribbon cutting ceremony held Thursday, April 20, for the Riverside County Republican Party's new headquarters grew a large crowd.

 The office space located at 28120 Jefferson Ave in Temecula was donated to the party by the Domenigoni family.

California Republican Chairman Jim Brulte attended the grand opening. Brulte spoke to the audience about becoming social media ambassadors and joining the coalition to help grow the party and its message in California. Anyone interested to help amplify the message of the Republican Party can email cThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . 

"Anyone can be a Republican," the party's message is also posted on their Facebook page. "No matter what proverbial box is checked in the past, anyone can have a political home in the Republican Party." 

At the ribbon cutting ceremony, Ingram encouraged party members to log onto the newly revamped website to learn about the current happenings in political news and to donate.
Ingram also announced a series of large checks he received to help the Riverside County Republicans register voters.

Congressman Duncan Hunter donated $20k, Congressman Ken Calvert donated $100k and former Riverside County Chairman Scott Mann donated $5k.
"We need to raise one million dollars," said Ingram. "We have 360-thousand registered republican voters in this county. If each voter donated $1 every month, just $1 we can take back our state and county," said Ingram.

After the ribbon cutting, the monthly membership meeting for the Republican Party of Riverside County was held and some plans on how to register voters were announced. 

Voter Registration Chairman, Joy Meidecke stressed the need for a Republican office in each city. Meidecke registered 1,500 people herself in the 42cnd and 56th Assembly Districts.

California Central Committee member, Don Dix said, "Caucus members will be working with the Riverside Republican Women's Federation in voter registration."

Precinct Chairman Mario Herrera announced the Red, White and Blue Wine Tasting event on April 29, by the Riverside County, Orange County and San Diego County Young Republicans. 

Ingram also introduced Catfish Curran, Michael Chain and Michelle Mears-Gerst to the communication and social media team for the Riverside County Republican Party.

Ingram congratulated Rebekah Cloud Manning on growing the Riverside County Republican Party's Facebook page and Twitter account. He also gave Curran credit for his work on redesigning the website, www.riversidecountygop.com .