Ned Ryun is an American conservative activist and the founder and CEO of American Majority, a conservative organization that trains candidates and activists.
Ned Ryun | |
|---|---|
 Ryun speaking at CPAC in 2015 | |
| Born | |
| Alma mater | University of Kansas |
| Occupation(s) | CEO, American Majority CEO, Voter Gravity |
| Known for | Founder of American Majority |
| Spouse | Becca Parker Ryun |
| Parent(s) | Anne and Jim Ryun |
| Website | nedryun |
Education and background
editRyun is the son of Jim Ryun, the former Republican congressman and distance runner.[1][2][3]
Career in government and as conservative activist
editRyun was a speechwriter for President George W. Bush.[4] He is the founder and president of American Majority, a Virginia-based conservative political training institute allied with the Tea Party movement.[5][6] The group was founded in 2008.[2] Its 501(c)(4) affiliate is American Majority Action,[7] of which Ryun was CEO.[8] Ryun has been a board member of the American Conservative Union.[9][10] During the 2011 Wisconsin protests against Republican Governor Scott Walker's proposal to restrict collective bargaining and organized labor, Ryun helped organize counter-demonstrations in favor of the legislation.[11][12]
A career Republican Party operative,[3] as of 2013 Ryun was the CEO of Voter Gravity, a Republican data firm used for the party's get out the vote efforts; the company created "tablet and smartphone accessible canvassing maps, walk lists, voter information and dialing tools."[13] In 2016, Ryun was a long-shot candidate for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee.[3][14]
Ryun was a staunch ally of Donald Trump.[15] In 2017, Ryun critiqued the Republican tax proposal for not going far enough, accusing the bill of being "a grab bag of goodies for the uberwealthy globalists."[16] In September 2020, after Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died, Ryun pushed for Trump to fill the vacancy created by Ginsburg's death before the November 2020 presidential election.[17] He pushed for Trump to nominate Amy Coney Barrett over Barbara Lagoa.[15] Ryun was appointed by Trump to his 1776 Commission, which produced a report on American history that linked progressivism to fascism. The New York Times noted that the report was criticized by mainstream historians.[18]
Ryun is the author of three books:
- The Adversaries: A Story of Boston and Bunker Hill (2021) ISBN 979-8514466689
- Restoring Our Republic: The Making of the Republic and How We Reclaim It Before It's Too Late (2019) ISBN 978-1705870778
- American Leviathan: The Birth of the Administrative State and Progressive Authoritarianism (2024) ISBN 978-1641774376
In addition, he has co-authored two books with his father and twin brother, Drew Ryun:
- Heroes Among Us (2002)[19]
- The Courage to Run (Gospel Light Publications: 2006), ISBN 0-8307-3908-4
References
edit- ^ David Boyce, Ryun Twins Following in Their Father's Footsteps-Sort Of, Kansas City Star (May 20, 1990).
- ^ a b Elena Schneider, Feingold State Department documents won’t pop before 2016 election, Politico (September 8, 2016).
- ^ a b c Elena Schneider, Each party's Senate hopes rests on least-known candidate, Politico (November 2, 2016).
- ^ Brady Dennis, National Wisconsin protests continue; counter-demonstrators support governor's bill, Washington Post (February 20, 2011).
- ^ Jerry Markon, Tea party stays on the sidelines as Obama, Republicans in Congress tackle fiscal cliff, Washington Post (December 23, 2012).
- ^ Trip Gabriel, A Tea Party Leader Tells Bachmann to Quit, New York Times (October 28, 2011).
- ^ "American Majority Action". American Majority Action. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
- ^ Robin Bravender, Tea party making its voice heard, Politico (August 2, 2012).
- ^ Alan Rappeport, Will Rule Changes Break Pauls' Monopoly on CPAC's Straw Poll?, New York Times (February 24, 2015).
- ^ Nick Corasaniti and Alan Rappeport, At CPAC, Pushing Republican Hopefuls to Dive Into Policy Specifics, New York Times (February 27, 2015).
- ^ Wisconsin protests continue; counter-demonstrators support governor's bill, Washington Post (February 19, 2011).
- ^ Wis. governor predicts Democrats will return to debate union rights, Reuters via Washington Post (February 20, 2011).
- ^ Bryon Tau (December 4, 2013). "GOP data firm adds big name". Politico.
- ^ Kyle Cheney & Shane Goldmacher, Short list emerges for RNC chair, Politico (November 14, 2016).
- ^ a b Alex Isenstadt & Marc Caputo, Trumpworld clashes over Barrett vs. Lagoa, Politico (September 22, 2020).
- ^ Anna Dubenko, Right and Left React to the Republican Tax Plan, New York Times (November 21, 2017).
- ^ Margaret Sullivan, The tortured logic from right-wing media about replacing Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Washington Post (September 19, 2020).
- ^ Michael Crowley & Jennifer Schuessler, Trump's 1776 Commission Critiques Liberalism in Report Derided by Historians, New York Times (January 18, 2021).
- ^ "ROLE OF FAITH Ryun to speak at assembly". York Daily Record. July 2, 2005. Retrieved 2008-10-12.