Tomi Lahren said there’s a red wave coming.
Lahren, a political commentator and former TV host, hit all the hot button topics – illegal immigration, second amendment rights and feminism – at the 16th annual Ronald Reagan Black Tie and Blue Jeans Barbecue Thursday evening. She received a standing ovation after speaking to an audience of about 550 people.
“I’m not sick of winning,” she said. “We need to fight for our ideals.”
Lahren came to Alachua to encourage conservatives to head to the polls Nov. 6, she told the audience. She had three main takeaways in her speech: America is the greatest nation on earth, Donald Trump is the president and Hillary Clinton is not.
“We’re here to get energized,” Lahren said in her speech. “Don’t vote straight R, vote for those who stand for your ideals.”
Tammy Prince, the Alachua County Republican Party chair, aimed to bring like-minded conservatives together and target a younger audience. The event exceeded expectations, she said.
This is the first year the barbecue, which is the group’s main fundraiser, was held at the Legacy Park Multipurpose Center in Alachua, Prince said.
“We want to engage millennials — not only millenials but the younger generations — and she’s definitely the right person to do that,” she said.
Debi McElroy, the executive assistant to the Santa Fe Provost, has been going to the barbecue ever since she helped initiate the event 16 years ago. This is the first year the event hosted a young speaker, and McElroy noticed an increased number of younger attendees, she said.
Last year’s keynote speaker was Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, she said.
Heather Fitts, a political assistant, liked Lahren’s lack of filter and passion.
“We need more people like her,” Fitts said.
Roz Miller, a mixed-media artist, came to the barbecue decked out in a bold American flag shirt and a button that read “fair tax” pinned to her lapel.
“It’s not the facility that you come for,” Miller said. “You come because of the cause, the speaker, the message and (to) keep this nation a constitutional republic.”
Local singer Josh Taylor performed, and Republican candidates State Sen. Chuck Clemmons and U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho also spoke at the event.
Everyone on stage stressed the importance of voting and keeping Florida as a red state. Clemmons said this is not a campaign; it’s a crusade.
Lahren said elections are close in Texas and Florida, and it’s important to remember about the people who are often forgotten.
Contact Alyssa Ramos at aramos@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter at @LysKRamos
Tomi Lahren, a contributor for Fox News, hugs Ellen Ault, a member of the Alachua County Republican Party, Thursday night at the 16th Annual Ronald Reagan Black Tie and Blue Jeans Barbecue. Lahren was the keynote speaker at the sold-out event put on by the Alachua County Republican Party in Legacy Park.
