Purpose & History

The purpose of the Kendall County Young Republicans is to promote the Principles of the Republican Party and to promote the election of Republican candidates by encouraging participation from 18 to 40 year olds.

We work toward this aim by:

Supporting Republican candidates who are running for local, county, state, and national office.
Recruiting local Republican candidates for elective offices.
Providing opportunities for Republican candidates to address our group and the public at open forums.
Offering or assisting in fund-raising activities for the party.
Participating in Election Day activities.

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 organized effort of the YRs began in New York City in 1859; three years after the Republican Party selected its first presidential candidate. A year later, the YRs played a critical role in helping elect Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican President in American history.

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 president.

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.