Dallas City Wire

On Aug. 17, Ryan Binkley, an unexpected contender in the 2024 Republican presidential race, made a homecoming to Texas, igniting interest among political circles and the public alike. Binkley shared his presidential plans with an estimated crowd of 3,000 young Republicans, discussing topics such as healthcare monopolies, border policies, debt reduction, and strategies to combat poverty through education, further fueling interest in his unique campaign. 

“We are gaining momentum because we’re talking about things that matter to people’s pocketbooks. Our message is about getting our finances on track for the next generation,” Binkley, a businessman and pastor, said, Advocate reported. “We’re going to be $50 trillion in debt in the next eight years if we continue what we’re doing. I’ve got a plan to balance the budget in seven years.” 

According to Advocate, during his homecoming, Binkley engaged with thousands in Plano and Dallas, including a speaking engagement at the Collin County Republican Men’s Club in Plano and an address at the Texas Young Republican and Young Republican National Convention in Dallas. Binkley presented his presidential plans to an estimated crowd of 3,000 young Republicans, discussing crucial topics such as healthcare monopolies, border policies, debt reduction, and innovative strategies to alleviate poverty through education.

“We’re trying to reach out to urban America and college students. The Republicans have not done a good job of that,” Binkley said, according to Advocate. “Our message should resonate regardless of your income level or your age. We need to teach young kids how to read, write and do math. Only one out of six eighth graders in urban America are reading at the eighth-grade level. So I want to start a volunteer movement with college students. For five hours a week, they’ll tutor third graders through fifth graders. Let’s engage the community.” 

Binkley, a pastor and entrepreneur, entered the GOP primary race in April, boasting a distinctive background, a fresh message in comparison to his competitors, and a substantial personal investment in his presidential bid, NBC News reported. Unlike other Republican contenders, even those considered long shots such as Larry Elder and Perry Johnson, Binkley lacks prior political experience, embarking on his political journey from the ground up in his pursuit of the presidency.

Binkley's campaign centers around four core policy areas: addressing the national debt, challenging major pharmaceutical corporations, reforming immigration policies, and bolstering education in urban centers. Despite the predominantly Democratic leaning of major cities, he aims to bring his religious message to urban America, emphasizing, "If it [my message] doesn’t connect to downtown L.A. and San Francisco, then maybe I’m not reflecting the message of God correctly," according to NBC.

NBC reports that Binkley's candidacy faces hurdles set by the Republican National Committee (RNC), demanding a minimum of 40,000 individual donors – a target he's currently falling short of with approximately 4,000 contributions. Another RNC criterion necessitates gathering support from at least 200 donors across 20 different states, a requirement Binkley acknowledges he has yet to meet, especially concerning given the upcoming debate in less than a month. The challenge persists with the polling stipulation, as candidates must achieve 1% in three qualifying national polls or a combination of two national and two early-state polls. Binkley's presence is notably absent from numerous polls, further complicating his efforts to meet the RNC's benchmarks.