About US
The inaugural Young Republican club was founded in 1856 to advocate for the newly formed Republican Party and the abolitionist cause. However, it wasn't until 1931 that the YRs were established nationally. George H. Olmsted, a graduate of West Point, caught the eye of the Republican Party's leaders and he was invited to meet with President Herbert Hoover at the White House. President Hoover was so impressed by Olmsted that he appointed him as the head of the Young Republican division of the Republican Party. In 1935, the Young Republican division was officially renamed the Young Republican National Federation (YRNF), and Olmsted was elected as the organization's inaugural chairman.
For decades, Young Republicans have served as the backbone of the Republican Party in West Virginia acting as the "boots on the ground" during elections. In 2014, Young Republicans helped drive the wave that saw West Virginia shift to Republican control for the first time in nearly a century. Following the success of these young elected officials, Young Republicans from across the state organized and re-chartered the state Federation in 2023 with a mission to recruit, train, and elect.
Today, the state Federation is comprised of two chapters the Northern Panhandle Young Republicans as well as the Eastern Panhandle Young Republicans. We are actively working to establish new chapters around the state; if interested please reach out!
Pictured Right: Young Republicans (right) recruit new members at West Virginia University in 1965.
Leadership Team
Chairman: David Bender
A lifelong West Virginian, David was elected Chairman at the chartering convention in 2023 and re-elected unanimously in 2025. As Chairman of the WVFYR, he proudly represents the Young Republicans on the Republican State Executive Committee. He currently also serves as Chairman of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and works in the telecommunications industry.
Co-Chair Skylar Wotring
Skylar began his career at the WV State Auditor’s Office scaling and expanding the office’s transparency initiative, wvcheckbook.gov. In this role, he published billions in financial data to allow taxpayers and voters to see how their money is spent in real time at the state level. He then helped expand the program statewide offering it to local governments that agreed to participate. This experience allowed him to connect with leaders all across the mountain state. He now supports Treasurer Larry Pack as an advisor and Policy Director at the State Treasurer’s Office, and also serves as a board member at the WV Alzheimer’s Association fundraising and advocating for transparency in pharmaceutical pricing.
Vice Chair: Drew Talbott
Born and raised in Morgantown, Drew is a lifelong West Virginian. He attended Northern Garrett High School in Accident, MD, where he graduated in 2019. After graduation, Drew immediately began working with a local realty company, providing marketing services. Having been involved in politics since a young age, Drew started working for Neil Parrott's Congressional Campaign for Maryland's Sixth Congressional District. During the same period, he was heavily engaged with the Maryland Young Republicans and President Donald Trump's campaign in Maryland. Following the 2020 election, Drew pursued a career in oil and gas while running for the West Virginia House of Delegates to represent the 82nd District. Currently, he is a member of the West Virginia National Guard, serving as an MP.
National Committeewoman: Marissa Findlay
Marissa has been active in Republican politics for over 15 years as a volunteer, leader, operative, and fundraiser. Marissa has served on state YR Boards, as a delegate to the National Convention, a Republican Woman Vice Chair, and as an advisor to Republican elected officials at all levels of government. She's a wife, mother to four future Republicans, Christian, and rabid conservative based in Charleston. She was named 2025, Young Republican Woman of the Year at YRNC - Nashville.
National Committeeman: Drew Harbert
Drew is a young and dedicated Republican political activist committed to promoting conservative values and ideals. From an early age, Drew developed a passion for politics and the principles of limited government, personal responsibility, and individual liberty. Actively engaging in local and national campaigns, Drew fearlessly advocates for policies that align with the Republican party's core beliefs. With an unwavering belief in the power of conservative principles to drive positive change, Drew continues to inspire fellow young Republicans to be active participants in shaping the political landscape.
Secretary: Braydan Goff
Braydan R. Goff was born and raised in Mingo County, West Virginia. He is a staunch conservative and stands firm on Appalachian values. Goff currently serves as the Chairman of Mingo County's Young Republicans chapter and is a member of the Mingo County Board of Education.
Parliamentarian: Ambrose Rucker
Information coming soon.