Annapolis, MD – Jason Emert, 33, was elected chairman of the Young Republican National Federation (YRNF) last month. Emert is an 8th generation East Tennessean and only the sixth Tennessean ever to be elected Young Republican national chairman. Among those who served as national chairman from Tennessee is former Governor Don Sundquist who served as chairman of the Federation from 1975-77.
“After spending roughly six months campaigning around the nation meeting young Republicans and listening to the concerns of all sorts of Americans, it is an honor to be chosen to lead the Young Republican National Federation,” Emert stated. “This organization has an important role to play in not only developing the future leaders of the nation, but keeping the Republican Party grounded to its principles and holding all Republicans accountable to their constituencies.”
Emert continued, “I believe the power of our party begins at the local level. While in high school, my first paid job was at the Blount County Courthouse working for County Executive Bill Crisp, future County Mayor then Register of Deeds Beverley Woodruff, and for the Blount County Commission. Then, working with Senator Lamar Alexander’s 2002 campaign and later in his office assisting East Tennessee Field Representative Jane Chedester with responsibilities for engaging constituents I had unmatched experiences that have shaped who I am as YRNF chairman.”
“Those early foundations of working with local government and Senator Alexander provided me the right perspective on how our party and our government should function from the ground up, not from D.C. down. I owe a lot to the East Tennessee community for providing me the early support to succeed in a way that has profoundly shaped my life and has led me to this position of national leadership.”
Emert was elected overwhelmingly defeating Marylander Kory Boone at the National Convention with almost 85% of the vote – the largest margin of victory in a contested chairman’s race. After his vote the rest of his slate – YR Majority – was elected by acclamation.
With almost six million Young Republican aged voters in the 2016 Republican Presidential Primary, there are over 15,000 members of the Young Republican National Federation. By 2020 this millennial generation will become the largest voting bloc surpassing the Baby Boomer generation. Over the last month Chairman Emert has been traveling around the country and speaking about issues important to the millennial generation. Most notably, last week he address a thousand leading women at the National Federation of Republican Women Convention in Philadelphia challenging them to bring in more millennial leadership.
Prior to being elect YRNF Chairman, Emert has been recognized as a conservative leader having been named Young Republican National Federation Man of the Year, a “Future Leader in Foreign Policy” by Foreign Policy Initiative, and “Future 40” by Maverick PAC.
