WASHINGTON, D.C. — College Republicans of America (CRA) today announced that the state federations of Michigan, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Maine, Indiana, Delaware, and Georgia have each—by unanimous vote of their respective state conventions—formally affiliated with CRA.

Over the past three weeks, the federations of MI, CT, IL, KY,MD, ME, IN, and DE voted to secede from the National Federation of College Republicans (NFCR). In a parallel decision, the Georgia College Republicans withdrew from the College Republicans National Committee (CRNC). CRNC—a historic organization dating to the 1890s—has been in decline since 2019following a number of financial and parliamentary scandals. NFCR and CRA were founded in 2022 and 2023 respectively as a response to the fallout and need for new national leadership. As a result, the past six years have seen a dramatic fight for national prominence between CRNC and its successors.

With this realignment, CRA claims victory after six years of infighting. Together, these nine federations represent 62 campus chapters, propelling CRA’s total network to 280 chapters nationwide—the largest single realignment in recent College Republican history. CRA has therefore asked RNC Chairman Michael Whatley to grant the organization official college auxiliary status, akin to the DNC’s recognition of College Democrats of America.

CRA’s expanded coalition builds on a proven record of success: in 2024, CRA activists logged more than 1.1 million voter contacts on behalf of President Donald J. Trump. The additional manpower and resources these new chapters provide position CRA to surpass that benchmark and deliver even stronger results in the 2026 midterm elections.

William Donahue, President of College Republicans of America, welcomed the new partners:

“Today we celebrate a powerful act of unity in the College Republican family. Our purpose has always been to bring conservative students together and equip them to lead. With 280 active CRA chapters — roughly four times NFCR and CRNC’s combined footprint, based on the best public data and estimates from former board members now joining us—were present the clear majority of College Republicans nationwide. While NFCR and CRNC keep their current chapter and leadership rolls behind closed doors, CRA is committed to transparency, collaboration, and winning conservative victories on campus and beyond. We are honored to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with these nine federations as we build the most energized, principled, and effective Republican student coalition in America. Now that this fight is all but over, we formally ask Chairman Whatley and the RNC to grant CRA auxiliary-organization recognition.”

Colson Thomas, Chairman, Kentucky College Republicans, stated: "As the duly elected Treasurer of the National Federation of College Republicans, I resigned after concluding that the organization’s finances were neither transparent nor responsibly managed. Although the title implied fiduciary oversight, I was denied access to the records and prevented from carrying out the basic duties of my office. Joined by the National Secretary and the National Communications Director, I stepped down in protest. That decision—and the broader demand for accountability—helped galvanize Kentucky and eight other state federations to affiliate with College Republicans of America. CRA offers the transparency, structure, and legitimacy that our movement needs. By uniting under a single, openly governed banner, we can build a stronger, more principled College Republican family for the battles ahead.”

Tyler Campbell, Chairman, Michigan College Republicans, stated: “Founded at the University of Michigan in 1892, Michigan is the birth place of the College Republicans movement. For far too long, corruption, financial mismanagement, and personal vendettas have tarnished the College Republicans’ name. At Michigan, we take immense pride in our legacy—and we could no longer tolerate the downward trajectory of the NFCR following the fracturing of the CRNC. After our secession from the NFCR, the College Republicans of America (CRA) immediately extended a hand of support. They offer financial stability, strong leadership, and a clear commitment not only to winning elections, but to developing their student members and preparing them for successful careers. The mission and values of the CRA align perfectly with those of Michigan, and we are confident that CRA is the only national organization worthy of uniting the College Republicans.”