WASHINGTON, DC – With the first primary just around the corner and the general election a little more than 10 months away, The Ripon Society held a luncheon discussion yesterday afternoon looking at one of the most important but undercovered efforts related to the 2016 campaign – the effort to hold and expand the Republican majority in the United States Senate.

Speaking at the discussion was Kevin McLaughlin, who serves as Deputy Executive Director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. In this position, McLaughlin is helping to lead the effort to hold and expand the Senate GOP. That effort is being overseen by Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker, the Chairman of the NRSC. Wicker was originally scheduled to address yesterday’s luncheon, but is fighting a cold and was forced to cancel.

“We appreciate Kevin stepping in and addressing our group yesterday afternoon,” stated Jim Conzelman, the President & CEO of The Ripon Society. “He did an excellent job describing the political environment and giving us the lay of the land as we begin the primary process and look ahead to the general election this fall. Perhaps most important, he sketched out some of the key races for Republicans around the country, and why he believes the GOP will be successful in its effort to hold and grow the Senate majority this year.”

According to Conzelman, yesterday’s discussion was attended by a group of nearly 65 people and follows up on similar discussions The Ripon Society has held in recent years examining the political environment and key issues leading up to the election. He also noted that the next Ripon Society discussion will have a similar focus. Scheduled for next Tuesday, January 26th, the discussion will feature veteran Republican strategist Ed Goeas discussing the results of a nationwide survey he recently conducted for The Ripon Society. The Ripon survey looked at some of the key challenges facing the middle class, as well as some of the top priorities that the American people would like to see addressed in the coming year.

“It is critical that Republicans put forward a positive agenda this year so people have something to vote for, and not against,” Conzelman said. “By conducting this nationwide survey, our goal is to not only get a better sense of the issues that Americans are concerned about, but a better idea of how Congress and the President can address these concerns and make a difference in their lives. We look forward to releasing the results of the survey next week.”

The Ripon Society is a public policy organization that was founded in 1962 and takes its name from the town where the Republican Party was born in 1854 – Ripon, Wisconsin. One of the main goals of The Ripon Society is to promote the ideas and principles that have made America great and contributed to the GOP’s success. These ideas include keeping our nation secure, keeping taxes low and having a federal government that is smaller, smarter and more accountable to the people.