There’s an old saying in politics that you can’t win an election if you don’t ask for the vote. I’d add something to that; you can’t expect people to stand with you if you haven’t bothered to show up for them.

One of the things I’ve been encouraged by this election cycle is watching a younger generation of Republican candidates across Georgia roll up their sleeves and do the hard work of building relationships in their communities. They’re showing that the future of the Republican Party in Georgia has some pretty capable hands ready to take the reins.

Jim Kingston, the 35-year-old Republican nominee for Georgia’s First Congressional District, is a good example.

Kingston announced today that he has secured endorsements from 119 current and former elected officials and community leaders across Southeast Georgia. That’s an impressive number by any measure, especially when you start looking at who’s on the list.

Sure, there are the big names. Governor Brian Kemp, Lt. Governor Burt Jones, Attorney General Chris Carr, Speaker Jon Burns, and a host of others. Kingston also has the endorsement of President Donald Trump and much of the Republican leadership in Washington.

But what caught my attention was further down the list.

Sheriffs from practically every corner of the district. County commissioners from places like Brantley, Bacon, Pierce, Wayne, and Camden counties. Mayors from small towns that rarely get much attention outside their county lines. Folks who spend their days dealing with the nuts and bolts of local government and whose constituents can find them at the grocery store on Saturday morning.

Those are the endorsements that tell me something about a candidate.

Having served in the Georgia House for eight years, I can tell you that relationships with local officials are worth their weight in gold. They’re often the first people to hear about problems, and they’re usually the ones left trying to fix them when somebody in Atlanta or Washington comes up with another bright idea.

And those relationships don’t just happen and it requires effort to earn someone’s trust to the point an elected official is willing to publicly declare that a candidate has their full support.

According to his campaign, Kingston has traveled throughout the district’s 15 counties, meeting with law enforcement, business owners, local officials, and voters. The breadth of his endorsement list suggests those visits have paid off.

Tybee Island Mayor Brian West put it pretty well.

“He’s put in the miles, spent the time listening to people across Southeast Georgia, and made a real effort to understand the issues facing our communities.”

That’s how it’s supposed to work.

And I think there’s a broader lesson here for Georgia Republicans.

For all the attention national politics gets, and heaven knows it gets plenty, the long term health of our party depends on the people willing to invest their time in the communities they hope to represent.

It’s easy enough to post something clever on social media, pick a fight with somebody on the other side of the aisle, or send out an email telling everybody how conservative you are. Building the kind of relationships that get a county sheriff, a small town mayor, and a local commissioner to put their reputations behind you takes a little more effort.

And it takes time.

What encourages me about this younger crop of Republican candidates is their willingness to do that work. They’re learning the people, the geography, and the concerns that make each community different. They’re putting down roots that can serve them, and hopefully their constituents, for years to come.

Of course, getting elected is only the beginning. The real test comes when those same local officials pick up the phone after Election Day and need help solving a problem. Will their calls still get answered? Will their concerns still be heard?

That’s when we’ll find out how deep those relationships really run.

But Kingston is off to a pretty good start, and I hope other young Republicans across Georgia are paying attention.

Because you can buy a billboard, hire a consultant, and spend a fortune on television advertising. But at the end of the day, there are still few things in politics more valuable than somebody looking you in the eye, shaking your hand, and knowing you cared enough to show up.

Full press release below:

Kingston’s Tireless Effort and Commitment to Southeast Georgia Earns Backing of 119 Local and State Leaders

SOUTHEAST GEORGIA – Today, Jim Kingston, Republican Nominee for Georgia’s 1st Congressional District, announced a full list of his endorsements as the first day of early voting begins in Georgia. 

“As I’ve said before, the good fight is not over, and I’m honored to have so many respected leaders across the first congressional district who agree and are ready to work together on behalf of Southeast Georgia,” said Kingston. “From securing our border and supporting law enforcement to lowering costs for working families and protecting our local industries, we share a commitment to putting Southeast Georgia first. I look forward to working alongside these leaders to deliver results in Washington.”

Throughout his campaign, Kingston has traveled across Southeast Georgia’s 15 counties, meeting with voters, local elected officials, law enforcement, business owners, and community leaders. His hard work to build relationships, listen to their concerns, and bring people together has earned him 119 endorsements from current and former leaders across the district and throughout the state.

“One thing nobody can question is Jim Kingston’s work ethic,” said Tybee Island Mayor, Brian West. “He’s put in the miles, spent the time listening to people across Southeast Georgia, and made a real effort to understand the issues facing our communities. That kind of dedication matters, and it’s exactly what we need from someone representing us in Washington.”

“What Jim Kingston has done in bringing together leaders from across Southeast Georgia is important,” said Bacon County Commissioner, Cory Tyre. “He’s built relationships with sheriffs, elected officials, business owners, and community leaders who all want to see our district succeed. That kind of broad coalition doesn’t happen overnight. It takes hard work, trust, and a willingness to listen.”

“Jim Kingston understands that representing Southeast Georgia starts with showing up and listening to the people who serve our communities every day,” said Glynn County Sheriff Neal Jump. “He’s made a point to sit down with law enforcement, hear our concerns, and understand the challenges we’re facing. Those relationships are important, and I look forward to continuing that conversation when he’s in Congress.”

Along with the 119 endorsements in Southeast Georgia and across the state, Kingston has also earned the endorsement of President Donald J. Trump as well as other national leaders including Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, and Congressman Jim Jordan.

Full List of Georgia Endorsements:

1. Governor Brian Kemp
2. Lt. Governor Burt Jones
3. Attorney General Chris Carr
4. Insurance Commissioner John King
5. Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper
6. Public Service Commissioner Jason Shaw
7. Former US Senator Saxby Chambliss (GA)
8. Congressman Rick Allen (GA-12)
9. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08)
10. Congressman Rich McCormick (GA-06)
11. Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01)
12. State Senator Billy Hickman (GA-SD-04)
13. State Senator Ben Watson (GA-SD-01)
14. State Senator Russ Goodman (GA-SD-08)
15. State Senator Sam Watson (GA-SD-11)
16. State Senator Mike Hodges (GA-SD-03)
17. Former State Senate President Eric Johnson (GA-SD-01)
18. Georgia Speaker of the House Jon Burns (GA-HD-159)
19. State Rep. Franklin Lehman (GA-HD-160)
20. State Rep. Bill Werkheiser (GA-HD-157)
21. State Rep. Steven Sainz (GA-HD-180)
22. State Rep. Jesse Petrea (GA-HD-166)
23. State Rep. Steven Meeks (GA-HD-178)
24. State Rep. Rick Townsend (GA-HD-179)
25. State Rep. Buddy DeLoach (GA-HD-167)
26. State Rep. Ron Stephens (GA-HD-164)
27. State Rep. John Crobett (GA-HD-174)
28. State Rep. Bill Hitchens (GA-HD-161)
29. State Rep. James Burchett (HA-HD-176)
30. Sheriff Robert Phillips (Charlton Co.)
31. Sheriff Len Davis (Brantley Co.)
32. Sheriff Ramsey Bennett (Pierce Co.)
33. Sheriff Mark Crowe (Bryan Co.)
34. Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie (Effingham Co.)
35. Sheriff Neal Jump (Glynn Co.)
36. Sheriff Craig Nobles (Long Co.)
37. Sheriff Andy Batten (Bacon Co.)
38. Sheriff Kevin Chaney (Camden Co.)
39. Sheriff Mark Melton (Appling Co.)
40. Sheriff Chuck Moseley (Wayne Co.)
41. Sheriff Carl James (Ware Co.)
42. Former Sheriff John Wilcher (Chatham Co.)
43. Former Sheriff John Carter (Wayne Co.)
44. Commissioner Randy Sellers (Appling Co.)
45. Commissioner Ricky Barnes (Appling Co.)
46. Commissioner Daryl Edwards (Appling Co.)
47. Commissioner Shane Taylor (Chairman, Bacon Co.)
48. Commissioner Cory Tyre (Bacon Co.)
49. Commissioner Sammy Boatright (Bacon Co.)
50. Commissioner Skipper Harris (Chairman, Brantley Co.)
51. Commissioner Harold Hendon (Brantley Co.)
52. Commissioner Randy Davison (Brantley Co.)
53. Commissioner Andy Riggins (Brantley Co.)
54. Commissioner Wade Price (Brantley Co.)
55. Commissioner Justin Bowers (Brantley Co.)
56. Commissioner Jesse Crews (Charlton Co.)
57. Commissioner Luke Gowen (Charlton Co.)
58. Commissioner Gerald Blocker (Vice Chairman, Long Co.)
59. Commissioner Jeremy Hall (Long Co.)
60. Commissioner Benji Strickland (Long Co.)
61. Commissioner Troy Mattox (Pierce Co.)
62. Commissioner Graham Raley (Pierce Co.)
63. Commissioner Randy Dixon (Pierce Co.)
64. Commissioner David Lowman (Pierce Co.)
65. Commissioner Jon Tindall (Ware Co.)
66. Commissioner Barry Cox (Ware Co.)
67. Commissioner Jonathan Daniell (Ware Co.)
68. Commissioner Mike Gordon (Wanye Co.)
69. Commissioner Kevin McCrary (Wayne Co.)
70. Commissioner Tim Hopkins (Wayne Co.)
71. Commissioner Randy Franks (Wayne Co.)
72. Commissioner Jeff Nielsen (Bryan Co.)
73. Commissioner Patrick Kisgen Jr. (Bryan Co.)
74. Commissioner Gene Wallace (Bryan Co.)
75. Commissioner Wade Price (Bryan Co.)
76. Former Commissioner Brad Brookshire (Bryan Co.)
77. Former Commissioner Dallas Daniel (Bryan Co.)
78. Commissioner Anthony Wayne Noha (Chatham Co.)
79. Commissioner Brian Hussey (Chatham Co.)
80. Commissioner Dean Kicklighter (Chatham Co.)
81. Former Commissioner Helen Stone (Chatham Co.)
82. Commissioner Martin Turner (Vice Chairman, Camden Co.)
83. Commissioner Cody Smith (Camden Co.)
84. Commissioner Ben Casey (Camden Co.)
85. Commissioner Damon Rahm (Chairman, Effingham Co.)
86. Commissioner Forrest Floyd (Effingham Co.)
87. Commissioner Roger Burdette (Effingham Co.)
88. Commissioner Jamie DeLoach (Effingham Co.)
89. Commissioner Phil Kieffer (Effingham Co.) 
90. Commissioner Sammy Tostensen (Glynn Co.)
91. Commissioner Bob Duncan (Glynn Co.)
92. Commissioner Wayne Neal (Glynn Co.)
93. Commissioner David Sweat (Glynn Co.)
94. Commissioner Bo Clark (Glynn Co.)
95. Commissioner Walter Rafolski (Glynn Co.)
96. Commissioner Kyle Turner (McIntosh Co.)
97. Commissioner Davis Poole (McIntosh Co.)
98. Commissioner Timothy Blount (Liberty Co.)
99. Mayor Bubba Hodge (Darien)
100. Mayor Jim Fuller (Ludowici)
101. Mayor Brian West (Tybee Island)
102. Mayor Ralph Hickox (Jesup)
103. Mayor Lee Gowen (Folkston)
104. Mayor Greg Lockhart (St. Mary’s)
105. Mayor Kieth Brooks (Blackshear)
106. Mayor Kevin Exley (Rincon)
107. Mayor Dana Williams (Thunderbolt)
108. Mayor Larry Taylor (Alma)
109. Mayor Timothy Byler (Flemington)
110. Mayor Grayson Day (Kingsland)
111. Mayor Joey Crews (Hoboken)
112. Mayor Daryl Edwards (Nahunta)
113. Former Mayor Russ Carpenter (Richmond Hill)
114. Former Mayor Eddie DeLoach (Savannah)
115. City Council Member G. Holmes Bell IV (Vernonburg)
116. City Council Member Mike Deal (Jesup)
117. City Council Member Jonathan McCullough (Jesup)
118. City Council Member Chad Ingram (Saint Mary’s)
119. District Attorney Billy Joe Nelson Jr. (Atlantic Circuit)