MEMORANDUM ON UNANIMOUS UNITY

A Call to Unite the College Republican and Young Republican Organizations of Texas

TO: The Federation of College Republicans; the Texas College Republicans; the Texas Young Republican Federation; the Young Republicans of Texas; and the Republican Party of Texas

FROM: Benjamin Shrader, Chairman & President, Austin Young Republicans, on behalf of the Executive Committee

DATE: November 5, 2026

RE: Unification of the College Republican organizations of Texas, unification of the Young Republican organizations of Texas, a Declaration of Friendship and Primacy between the two, and a pledge of full support to the Republican Party of Texas

"We must have unanimous unity. We fight one battle together. We win together or we lose together."

Purpose

The Austin Young Republicans, the largest Young Republican club in Texas and the second largest in the nation, issue this memorandum to state plainly what every young Republican in this state already knows. We are divided, and division is costing us. The young conservatives of Texas are split across two College Republican organizations and two Young Republican organizations. We compete for the same students, the same donors, the same volunteers, and the same recognition from the Party, while the Left organizes as one. The position of the Austin Young Republicans is simple. These organizations must unite, and that unity must be unanimous.

The Austin Young Republicans take no side in old disputes. None of our current leadership were members when those disputes began, and we were vocal opponents of litigation between Republicans from the start. Our loyalty is to the Republican Party of Texas, to the Young Republican National Federation, and to the young people of this state who want to win. We are friends with everyone who fights for the same cause. That is the only standard we apply.

Section I. Unification of the College Republican Organizations of Texas

The Austin Young Republicans call for the Federation of College Republicans and the Texas College Republicans to merge into a single statewide College Republican organization. Texas has one Republican Party, one state platform, and one set of campuses to win. It should have one College Republican organization.

We propose that the merged College Republican body be formed on the following principles: every existing chapter in good standing with either organization admitted as an equal with full voting rights; all disputes and obligations between the two organizations settled as quickly as possible; leadership chosen at a joint convention open to all chapters; membership rolls, donor lists, and contact data consolidated under a single data agreement; and the merged body formally pledged to the Republican Party of Texas, following the Party platform and endorsing its candidates.

College Republicans are not junior partners. They hold their own battlefield, the campuses, and they hold it under harder conditions than any of us. The merged College Republican organization must be treated as an equal of the Young Republican organization in every respect.

Section II. Unification of the Young Republican Organizations of Texas

Separately, and on its own track, the Austin Young Republicans call for the Texas Young Republican Federation and the Young Republicans of Texas to merge into a single statewide Young Republican organization. The two groups are built from the same people, the same counties, and the same convictions. The division between them serves no one but our opponents.

We propose that the merged Young Republican body be formed on the following principles: every chartered club in good standing with either organization admitted as an equal, all disputes and obligations between the two organizations settled as quickly as possible, reparations made, apologies issued, grievances mended and forgiven, and leadership chosen at a joint convention open to all clubs; the merged body seeking and maintaining recognition from the Young Republican National Federation; and the merged body formally pledged to the Republican Party of Texas, following the Party platform and endorsing its candidates.

The College Republican merger and the Young Republican merger are two separate undertakings. Neither should be held hostage to the other. Each should proceed as quickly as its members are willing to move, and the Austin Young Republicans will support both with every resource at our disposal.

Section III. Declaration of Friendship and Primacy

Once both mergers are complete, the unified College Republican organization and the unified Young Republican organization should jointly issue a Declaration of Friendship and Primacy. The College Republicans and the Young Republicans must remain two separate organizations. They are two sides of the same sword, equal brothers, each with skills and abilities the other does not possess, and stronger together.

Friendship means the two organizations recognize one another as equals, each holding its own battlefield, and pledge never to recruit against, compete with, or attack the other, sharing data, resources, and personnel freely.

Primacy means that the College Republicans, whenever possible, work first and foremost with the Young Republicans, and the Young Republicans, whenever possible, work first and foremost with the College Republicans. This is not exclusivity. It is preferential treatment of a brother organization. Each remains free to work with others, but each turns to the other first.

Section IV. Full Support to the Republican Party of Texas

Above them both stands the Republican Party of Texas, the glue that binds us together. The greater Young Republicans and the greater College Republicans each pledge full support to the Party, its platform, and its candidates. These organizations are fully subordinate to the Party, follow its platform, endorse its candidates, and carry its shared vision to every campus and every county in Texas.

For our part, the Austin Young Republicans pledge full support and communion with the Republican Party of Texas, supporting all of its policy priorities and all of its candidates.

The Austin Young Republicans will not wait for others to act. Members of every College Republican and Young Republican organization in Texas are welcome at every Austin Young Republicans event, effective immediately. Our club stands ready to host the first joint meetings, to share our data and infrastructure, and to put our name and our numbers behind any serious effort to bring these organizations together. We ask all organizations to which this memorandum applies to adopt it and say so publicly. In this chaotic age, there is only one path forward. We must unite.

Your friend,

Benjamin Shrader

Chairman & President, Austin Young Republicans

Chairman & President, Heart of Texas Young Republicans Coalition

VIP Director, Young Republican National Federation

Former SREC Liaison, Texas Young Republican Federation

Board of Trustees Member, Texas College Republicans

Advisor for Partnerships and Coalitions, High School Conservatives of America

Candidate Recruitment Committee Chair, Travis County Republican Party

Board of Trustees Member, American Society of Young Professionals

Precinct Chair, Travis County Precinct 375

CEO, Shrader Promotions LLC

Issued by Chairman & President Benjamin Shrader with the unanimous consent of the Austin Young Republicans Executive Committee. November 5, 2026.