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.

Young Republicans and Young Democrats recruit new members at West Virginia University in 1965.

Leadership Team

David Bender is the current chairman of the West Virginia Federation of Young Republicans

Chairman: David Bender

A lifelong West Virginian, David is a graduate student at Marshall University and a professional in the telecommunications industry. Previously, he served as the Secretary of the WV Federation of College Republicans and has worked on several state and local campaigns.

Co-Chair Britt Paul

Passionate about individual liberty and free markets, Britt has decades of experience working professionally in the liberty movement and as a GOP activist. Her Republican credentials date back to her time in the Teen Age Republicans and extend to serving as Chair of the Alexandria Young Republicans (Virginia) and the Dauphin County Young Republicans (Pennsylvania).

Marissa Findlay is the national committeewoman of the West Virginia Federation of Young Republicans

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.

Drew Talbott is the Secretary of the West Virginia Federation of Young Republicans

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.

Drew Talbott is a member of the Harrison County Republican Party and WVFYR

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.

Trey Ewing is a member of the West Virginia Republican Party and WVFYR Treasurer

Treasurer: Trey Ewing

Trey Ewing is a Republican from Greenbrier County. He serves as an elected member of the State Executive Committee for the 10th Senate District and also as the Vice-Chairman of the Greenbrier County Executive Committee. In these roles, he has worked to strengthen the party and support the election of Republican candidates at both the state and local levels.

He has also played a significant role in several Republican campaigns that successfully flipped seats across Southern West Virginia. He was one of the leaders in the campaign team for State Senator Vince Deeds, who defeated the Senate Minority Leader during the 2022 election. Additionally, he played a large role in the movement that flipped Greenbrier County to majority Republican, resulting in the election of two Delegates and a State Senator in a county that had previously been a Democrat stronghold since the early 1900s.

Parliamentarian: Ambrose Rucker

Information coming soon.

Secretary: Garrett Stire