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College Republicans is an umbrella term that describes college and university students who support theRepublican Party of the United States. TheCollege Republican National Committee (CRNC) is the oldest campus-based organization for Republican students and was founded in 1892. It currently represents 250,000 students on over 2,000 campuses.[1] The Republican Party is not affiliated with any college groups, although Republican Party members often benefit from college students' campaign efforts on their behalf.[2] Campus chapters may function independently, may be part of a statewide organization, or may be affiliated with a national alliance such as CRNC. The various campus-based Republican clubs function as recruitment organizations for the Republican Party and have produced many prominentRepublican andconservative activists.[3][4][2]
Notable national college Republican organizations include:
TheCollege Republican National Committee (CRNC), has historically been the main national College Republicans organization. Founded in 1892, it remains the largest and most active College Republicans organization with over 250,000 members on 2,000 campuses across the United States. TheCRNC National Chairwoman and the national leadership team, including an executive director, political director, finance director, comptroller, national field director, treasurer, national secretary, and 4 regional vice-chairs, are elected at the bi-annual College Republican Convention. The currentCRNC National Chairwoman is Courtney Britt.
In recent years, the CRNC has lost many of its state affiliates and chapters.[citation needed]
Following RNC ChairmanMichael Whatley's dissolution of the RNC "Youth Advisory Board," the CRNC lost its 132-year long endorsement by the RNC.[citation needed]
The College Republicans United (CRU) was established in 2018 to oppose what was seen as a CRNC that was hostile to PresidentDonald Trump. It consists of various college chapters in Arizona and Iowa.[5] The leadership structure and bylaws of the organization are not made public. The CRU have been criticized for chapters which allegedly posted "anti-Semitic" and "racist" postings online,[6] causing rifts between the CRU and other CR organizations and donors, and has been described as "far-right".[7] The CRU drew further outrage after invitingNick Fuentes, a noted "white nationalist," to their National Convention event.[8][9] The group previously invited another white nationalist,Jared Taylor, to speak at a campus event.[10] On January 31, 2025, CRU set up a table at Arizona State University's Tempe campus, "to urge students to report their peers for deportation to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement."[11] The CRU is currently the smallest federation by state and chapter count, containing 5 collegiate chapters.[12]
The National Federation of College Republicans was created in 2022 in response to controversies arising in theCRNC.[13] The NFCR claims to encompass 22 state federations (including but not limited to Georgia, and Maryland).[14][15] The NFCR Leadership positions consist of a Chairperson, a National Vice Chairperson, an executive director, a treasurer, a secretary, and a Parliamentarian.[16] Rachel Howard is the current National Chairwoman of the NFCR.[citation needed]
The College Republicans of America (CRA) was established in 2023 and encompasses sixteen federations (Arizona,California, Kansas, Idaho, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Missouri, Utah, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin); a plurality of clubs in Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and West Virginia; and a few clubs in several additional states.[17][18][19] The CRA has over 200 active, affiliated College Republicans chapters.[20] Some notable chapters are thePenn State College Republicans, for the Pennsylvania Collegiate Leadership Conference and sizable deployments, and the Harvard Republican Club, for history and influence.[21][22][23][24]
According to the CRA website, its members broke away from the CRNC due to it falling "into disrepair."[25] The CRA President and the national committee consist of an appointed president, appointed vice-presidents, appointed directors, and annually elected regional representatives.[26] The CRA also has a Board of Governors which consist of one National Committeeman per state, elected or appointed by that state (so long as they are "in good standing") via however the state sees fit.[26] The acting CRA President is Gabriel Guidarini.[27]
The CRA endorsedDonald Trump for president during the2024 United States presidential election and campaigned for him during the2024 Iowa Republican presidential caucuses.[28] Then-CRA President, Gabriel Guidarini, delivered the pledge of allegiance at the2024 Republican National Convention.[29]
The group has ties toTurning Point Action (TPA), with the COO of TPA serving on the CRA's advisory board.[30]
There are upwards of 40 College Republican state federations. Each federation administers the College Republican activities at thestate level. The state federation leadership team, which includes a statechairperson and other officers, serve as the primary link between local university chapters and the national federation. The state chairman serves as the representative for College Republicans when dealing with thestate Republican Party,local media, andgovernmental entities. State federations are responsible for organizing and assisting local chapters with securing proper credentials, recruitment efforts, and campus votercanvasses.[31] It is a state federation's responsibility to organize and implement activities for statewide campaigns.[31] Like the national organization, state federations operate asnon-profit associations that are not legally affiliated with the Republican Party.[31]
The college and university-based chapters of College Republicans operate in a dual capacity asstudent clubs associated with a particular campus and as members of their state federation.[31] Like the state federations and national committees, the campus chapters are affiliated with their local Republican Party, but are not official arms of that organization.[31] The chapter chairperson and leadership team are responsible for maintaining the campus club's credentials and constitution, and representing the College Republicans when dealing withuniversity administration, other student groups, and in the surrounding community.[31] The campus chapter leadership team might include many members, with administrative responsibilities delegated todormitory andGreek chapter chairpersons.[citation needed]
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During election season, campus chapters are responsible for organizing and implementing the campuscanvas, runningmock elections, managing the localget-out-the-vote efforts. At other times, the campus chapters will organizeissue advocacy andlobbying efforts, welcomeconservative guest speakers to campus, and organize social events and other recruitment activities.[32][33][34]
Generally, the hired field representative or chapter chair begins the school year with membership tables on campus for recruitment. Members use door-to-door canvassing andword of mouth to identify andregister as many Republican voters among the student body as possible.[3] These individuals are encouraged to vote through anabsentee ballot and assist the candidates with election dayGet Out The Vote efforts. Chapters occasionally run student mock elections and other special events as a means to gainpositive earned media attention for a candidate.[3]
Gabe Guidarini, College Republicans of America recites the Pledge of Allegiance during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum
