WASHINGTON– College Republicans came in droves to Washington this weekend to watch Donald Trump become president, saying the Republican inspired a lot of young people to get active in the GOP.
Zach Bartman
20 years old
Junior at Gettysburg College
Hometown: Allentown, PA
State chair of Pennsylvania Federation of College Republicans
How long have you been a member of your school’s chapter? : “I’ve been a member for three years. I’ve been the state chairman for the Pennsylvania College Republicans for one year.”
What made you pursue that position?: “I actually interned on (Ohio Gov. John) Kasich’s campaign and was kinda inspired to get further involved in the political process. I felt as though it’s something I could see myself doing down the road.
Future plans?: “I want to practice law for five to 10 years at least and possibly run for office after that.”
What sort of work do you do at your school chapter?: “We’re active with promoting conservative candidates on campus and in our communities. We raise awareness through the student body as well as provide a spot for people who have conservative leanings on campus.
What would you like to see from the Trump administration? : “I’d like to see the focus on two main aspects and that would be the economy and national security. I think those are the two main focus points that won Trump the election and he needs to really follow through with those promises to reduce security risks and to promote economic prosperity and job creation.”
Thoughts on 2016? : “People are sick of the interest groups really controlling the candidates and lobbying firms and people who are obviously donating a lot of money. They’re sick of that system and they wanted to see someone who has no connection to that. Someone who is an outsider who can fix the broken system.
Why attend? : “It’s kind of like a culmination of all the hard work that was put in through the fall. All the emotional attachments to your candidate, you want to celebrate that win. I’m gonna see a lot of friends this weekend that I worked with.”
Jessica Browning
20 years old
Junior at Texas A&M
Been involved with her school chapter since freshman year, been chair since April 2016
Chair of Texas Federation of College Republicans
How long have you been a member of your school’s chapter?: “Since my freshman year.”
“At the A&M College Republicans, I’m the activities director. For the Texas Federation of College Republicans, I’m the state chair.”
“My responsibilities are mainly just to communicate with all my chapters, help build chapters, spread conservative ideologies and teach really what the Republican Party’s about to get young people involved in the party.”
What do you want to see for your chapter?: “Mainly for all my chapters, I just want to see them grow. Continue to break those Republican stereotypes that a lot of times we hear. They say the Republican Party is ‘old white men’. And a lot of people don’t think that Republicans are young and diverse and they really differ within the party.
Future plans?: “Mainly just going to law school, focusing on constitutional law and international law. I mainly want to stay in the private sector and help with policy. I don’t really ever want to run for office or get involved with that. I just want to help those individuals who are in office make decisions and help push the country in the direction that the people want it to go in.”
What do you want to see from the Trump administration?: “I want to see our budget under control. I want to see us cut our national debt.”
Why attend?: “This is just an election like no other. It was very hard on everybody, Republicans and Democrats. It was a very tough election year and it has finally come to a close. I worked on some campaigns throughout this. This is the end of the election cycle and I just really want to see that.”
Austin Emineth
20 years old
Junior at University of North Dakota
Hometown: Born in Colorado, but considers Bismark, North Dakota home.
State chair of North Dakota College Republicans
Thoughts on 2016?: “This election was huge on social media. So what it’s done is it’s gotten people inspired of all sorts, of all parties.”
Proudest moment?: “We’ve actually had members that were campaign managers for some of the state elections. One Senate seat hadn’t been Republican ever before and a College Republican was actually the campaign manager for them.”
Thoughts on Trump?: I think he’s got the motivation. He’s ambitious and he’s ready to go. I think that entrepreneurship is kind of the heart of America. I think that’s what Donald Trump represents.”
Hope for the future of the Republican Party?: “I just think it’s important to work across the aisle and be bipartisan. History has kinda shown that it’s the best way to do it. We can’t just ignore someone because of their party. We have to work with them.”
What do you want to see for your chapter?: “I want to see the involvement stay. I want to see kids keep going. I don’t want it to be, “Hey we won! We don’t have to pay attention anymore!” That’s not the case. We have to hold Trump accountable and actually stay engaged.
Future plans?: “I love business. I love the way it operates. I would also consider doing something to serve my country, if that means through D.C. or state legislature.”
Caitlin Holman
21 years old
Senior at University of Nebraska- Lincoln
Hometown: Lincoln, Nebraska
State chair of Nebraska Federation of College Republicans
How long have you been involved in your chapter?: “I’ve been a member since I started college. I just finished up two and a half years of being chapter chair at the University of Nebraska. And I’ve been on the executive board on both the state level and the chapter level.”
Thoughts on 2016? :“I saw a lot of young people really wanting to get active, really wanting to learn and get involved.”
What issues do you want the new administration to address?: “Foreign policy is really important to me especially our relationship and our role in the Middle East. I really want him to be thoughtful and really consider a lot of different angles when he’s making decisions. I was pretty critical of Obama’s decision to pull troops out, so I’m really excited to see how he handles a lot of those complex relationships that we have in the region.”
Ben Rajadurai
21 years old
Senior at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts
Major: Political Science
Hometown: Born in California, but North Attleboro, MA
State chair of Massachusetts Alliance of College Republicans for 2 years.
How long have you been involved with your chapter?: “Since the day I first came on campus, so four years now. The College Republican community both in our state and across the country is really just a big family and provides a really great network to get involved and find like-minded people and it’s been valuable to me for all four years.”
“The way I’ve always seen it the more we can encourage discussion among friends on an equal playing field, our ideas will win. That’s really what we encourage on our campuses as well as activism.”
Future plans?: “I’m undecided. When I first started political science, I did it to go to law school. And then I got an internship with the Sean Bielat campaign. He ran for Congress a few years ago, didn’t win. But, once you do one, you kinda get hooked.”
What issues do you want the new administration to address? :“A big one for me has always been education. When we’re growing up, we’re always taught that if you work hard in school and you get out there and do your best, you’re gonna be successful in the long run. And I think what we’ve seen in the last few years, especially in our low-income cities and our low-income schools, that dream just isn’t a reality for far too many students. And I think the pick of Betsy DeVos was a very smart choice to shake up the education establishment and fix a system that’s failed a lot of our students for far too long.”
Hopes for the future?: “In Massachusetts, I’d love to see Republicans win the youth vote in 2018.”
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