The Young Republicans (YRs) are the oldest political youth organization in the United States. Important to the growth of the Republican Party, the YRs reach out to registered Republicans, 18 to 40 years of age, and provide them with better political knowledge and understanding of the issues of the day.
The first Young Republican club was established in 1856 in support of the newly formed Republican Party and the abolitionist movement. It was not until 1931 that the YRs were organized nationally. West Point graduate George H. Olmsted began to attract the attention of the leaders of the national Republican Party, and he was invited to meet with President Herbert Hoover at the White House. President Hoover, so impressed with his visit with Olmsted, asked the young man to head the Young Republican division of the Republican Party, which Olmsted did. In 1935, the Young Republican division officially became the Young Republican National Federation (YRNF), and the YRNF elected Olmsted as the organization’s first chairman.
Since its creation, the YRNF has established itself as the premier Republican grassroots organization in the nation, providing essential grassroots support for Republican candidates and conservative issues on the local, state and national levels.
The YRNF has a solid record of producing future Republican Party leaders – including Governors, Senators, Congressmen, nationally recognized campaign consultants, and community leaders.
Through recruiting, training and mobilizing people, the YRNF presents an opportunity for ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Through community involvement in political issues, charitable projects and participation in political campaigns, YRs work to improve the world in which we live.
While the YRs are best known for political activism and service to our communities, YR events also provide a great opportunity for interaction amongst membership. This interaction allows for the exchange of ideas, networking, and friendships that will last a lifetime.
The YRs provide different opportunities for different people. No matter what your long-term goals may be, the YRs serve as the building blocks for a successful future.
Rick Loughery is the national chairman of the Young Republicans, making history as the first chairman to be unanimously elected in 2019 and unanimously re-elected in 2021. As chairman, Rick has set an aggressive agenda for the Young Republican National Federation to increase engagement with young conservatives and double its membership, train one million young leaders and activists, recruiting young candidates to run for office, and make a big impact electing Republicans across the country. For the first time in the organization’s history, the Young Republican National Federation unanimously adopted national goals to strengthen the organization and support Republicans up and down the ballot. In 2020, the Young Republican National Federation deployed volunteers during the fall campaign with Young Republicans making more than 23 million voter contacts, helping to send Young Republicans to Congress, state legislatures and local offices across the country. In 2022, Young Republicans surpassed those milestones with more than 30 million voter contacts across America in helping to take back the U.S. House of Representatives. Rick has committed Young Republicans to building a better, stronger GOP and elevating Young Republicans as party leaders now and into the future. To fulfill that mission, Rick launched “YRs Run” in 2021, a national initiative to run more Young Republicans for public and party office than ever before! In addition, he had championed the historic establishment of the historic Young Republican Caucus in the United States Congress and the Young Republican National Presidential Forum set to be held this fall, advancing Young Republicans to the forefront of national Republican politics.
Previously the state chair of the Pennsylvania Young Republicans, Rick rebuilt the organizational structure, created more opportunities for young conservatives to get involved within the Republican Party and made more than one million voter contacts by Young Republicans in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania was recognized as the nation’s best Young Republican organization in 2018 and Rick was personally presented with the inaugural General George H. Olmsted Award for exceptional leadership by the Young Republican National Federation.Rick earned his undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. He resides in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.
In November 2011, Rick became the youngest county official in Pennsylvania when he was elected as the Recorder of Deeds for Chester County. As Recorder, Rick established a new program honoring our veterans and built partnerships to prevent real estate fraud. He was re-elected in 2015 and, over his two terms in office, he has saved more than $21 million dollars to help the county balance its budget and keep taxes low. In 2017, Rick was recognized by the American Society for Public Administration with the Excellence in Local Government Award.
Rick earned his undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Born and raised in Chester County, Pennsylvania, Rick is active within the community and has been recognized as an emerging leader and distinguished young professional.
The Young Republican national leadership team is a creative and successful powerhouse representing Young Republicans across America!
Senior Leadership Team with Chairman Rick Loughery (standing middle), CoChair Hayden Padgett (standing left), Vice Chair Sarah Jane Walker (not shown), Treasurer Spencer Head (standing right) and Secretary Desiree Brown (seated left), Former Executive Director Evan Young (seated right)
Young Republican National Board of Directors 2021-2023
Chairman Rick Loughery, DPA
CoChairman Hayden Padgett
Vice Chairwoman Sarah Jane Walker
Treasurer Spencer Head
Secretary Desiree Brown
Assistant Secretary Dalton Glasscock
Assistant Treasurer Jack Blakely
Midwest Regional Vice Chair Abby Oliver
Northeast Region Vice Chair Joe Paru
South Region Vice Chair Thomas Turner
West Region Vice Chair Grayson Massey
Auditor Brian Maher
State Chairman's Association Chair Nik Rettinger
Executive Director Nick Meade
Chief of Staff Sean Pumphrey
General Counsel Ross Wolfe, Esq
1931 – 1936 Gen. George H. Olmsted, IA
1936 – 1938 J. Kenneth Bradley, CT
1938 – 1941 Donald Hornbeck, OH
1941 – 1946 Gordon Allott, CO
1946 – 1949 Ralph E. Becker, NY
1949 – 1951 John Tope, MI
1951 – 1953 Herbert Warburton, DE
1953 – 1955 Sullivan Barnes, SD
1955 – 1957 Charles K. McWhorter, NY
1957 – 1959 Congressman John M. Ashbrook, OH
1959 – 1961 Ned Cushing, KS
1961 – 1963 Len Nadasdy, MI
1963 – 1965 Donald E. “Buz” Lukens, OH
1965 – 1967 Tom Van Sickle, KS
1967 – 1969 Jack McDonald, TN
1969 – 1971 Ron Romans, NE
1971 – 1973 Governor Donald K. Sundquist, TN
1973 – 1975 Richard “Dick” Smith, FL
1975 – 1977 Jack Mueller, WY
1977 – 1979 Roger J. Stone, Jr., VA
1979 – 1981 Richard B. Abell, PA
1981 – 1983 David H. Barron, SC
1983 – 1985 Stephen R. Clark, IL
1985 – 1987 Marilyn R. Hudson, KS
1987 – 1989 Richard Jacobs, TN
1989 – 1991 Terry Campo, VA
1991 – 1993 Enid Greene, UT
1993 – 1995 Irv Biznov, TX
1995 – 1997 Larry Kidwell, TN
1997 – 1999 Monica Samuels, TX
1999 – 2001 Speaker Kevin McCarthy, CA
2001 – 2003 Dee Dee Benkie, IN
2003 – 2005 Michael Mack, CA
2005 – 2007 Nicolee Ambrose, MD
2007 – 2009 Jessica Colon, TX
2009 – 2010 Audra Shay, LA
2010 – 2013 Lisa Stickan, OH
2013 – 2015 Jason Weingartner, NY
2015 – 2017 Dennis Cook, IL
2017 – 2019 Jason Emert, TN
2019 – Present Rick Loughery, PA
