About Us

The Young Republicans of Allegheny County (YRAC) was founded as a chapter of the Pennsylvania Young Republicans and the Young Republican National Federation, which has been an official auxiliary of the Republican Party for over 80 years.

As a sub-chapter of the Pennsylvania Young Republicans, the YRAC is proud to be a part of an organization that is the oldest Republican youth movement in the United States.

We are an allied Republican organization working with other Republican organizations at local, state, and national levels. Since its founding, the YRAC  has grown exponentially. Today, the organization continues to serve Republicans in Allegheny County.

MISSION

Our mission is to help make the Republican Party a strong and viable alternative for residents of Allegheny County.  As the premier gathering place for smart, positive individuals, we provide members with access to likeminded people and to leaders of the Republican Party. 

Our group hopes to grow the number of active members who will drive positive results for purposeful campaigns.

VISION

Our vision is to be the premier Republican organization for young individuals in Allegheny County. Our immediate objective is to establish a strong, positive, and professional rallying point for young Republicans to meet and directly support efforts to grow the Republican Party in the County.

PHILOSOPHY

We recognize that Republicans -- particularly young Republicans -- are a minority in the Democratic stronghold of Pittsburgh. However, we believe there is an untapped demand for Republican Party activity in both the City and County.

We understand Republicans are varied and diverse in who they are and what they believe. This is particularly true in a large, urban environment like Pittsburgh. As a result, we believe in a “big tent” philosophy, where we can develop the groundwork to become competitive.

Our resources are focused on party development and on campaigns where we believe our efforts can make the difference between victory and defeat.

We believe that increasing Republican activity in Allegheny County helps the party not only locally, but statewide as well.

Allegheny County is on the move, and the vast majority of young potential Republicans who move to Western Pennsylvania end up living or working Downtown (Note: it really does look terrible in print), the South Hills or North Shore. It is critical that the Pennsylvania Republican Party have a strong and visible presence in Allegheny County as a welcoming committee to newly arrived Pennsylvanians.

The immediate benefit of joining the YRAC is the ability to make direct political inroads in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County political races. But the organization also helps all Pennsylvania Republicans indirectly by forcing Democrats to spend resources in otherwise “safe” territory and by acting as a recruitment vehicle for Pittsburghers who may eventually move out to the suburbs, collar counties and beyond.

VALUES

We believe in the Republican values of individual freedom and responsibility, limited and ethical government, the rule of law, and free markets. Our desired reputation is one of purposeful energy, professionalism, conservatism, reliability and to be a wellspring of the most promising political talent in the state of Pennsylvania.

APPROACH

The Young Republicans of Allegheny County approach is to provide the entry point and home base for newcomers to the party in the Allegheny County area.

As a home base for Republicans, the YRAC provides events and activities that appeal to a broad range of people new to the political process, as well as to the more politically experienced. By having a variety of events, we help new members feel comfortable, which enables them to make the jump from being a socially active member to a politically active one.

Our approach to growing the Republican Party in Allegheny County is threefold.

Attracting
First, we attract two types of individuals to our organization: frustrated self-identified Republicans who feel isolated in Allegheny County and therefore do not participate in local political activity, and those who may hold beliefs in line with the Republican Party but who do not currently associate themselves with a political party. 

We use communications and marketing efforts, charitable and community outreach, social networking opportunities, and political events to reach these individuals.

Retaining
Once they develop a comfort level with our membership, our next step is to retain them through networking with other active members and involving individuals in more substantive volunteer opportunities within the organization.

Engaging
Finally, after individuals have become active within the YRAC organization at the club level, our organization gives members the opportunity to become more engaged in the Republican Party at other levels beyond the Young Republicans of Allegheny County organization.

 

PARTNERS

We are pleased to partner with a variety of area Republican organizations.