Ned Ryun
Encyclopedia
Ned Ryun is the founder and president of American Majority
, an organization that identifies and trains candidates and activists who will become involved in local government, school district governance, or state legislatures. He is the publisher of NedRyun.com, a website on which he publishes the podcast series History of the Constitutional Convention, a collection of podcasts providing a behind the scenes look at the Philadelphia Convention
; and Days of Revolution, a history of the American colonies from the French and Indian War
until the American Revolution
. Ryun has authored two books with his brother Drew Ryun. Ryun and his wife, Becca Parker Ryun, currently live in Purcellville, Virginia
with their four children.
. He attended the University of Kansas
from 1996 to 2000. Ryun graduated with honors in English
and History
. While there, Ryun also ran on the Cross Country
and Track and Field
teams.
Ryun, the son of former U.S. Congressman Jim Ryun
, was a former presidential writer for George W. Bush
and the co-founder and former director of the Generation Joshua
program. Ryun currently sits on the board of the Madison Project.
, Politico
and The Washington Post
, among other notable media outlets. He is an occasional front page contributor to RedState.com, the "most widely read right of center blog on Capitol Hill." Ryun is also a regular contributor to the American Spectator website.
Ryun and American Majority gained notoriety during the 2011 Wisconsin protests
over the state's 2011 budget. While predominantly liberal protestors and members of Wisconsin
labor unions filled the Wisconsin State Capitol
demanding that the Wisconsin Budget Repair Bill
be defeated, Ryun and other organizations affiliated with the Tea Party
organized a February 19th counter-rally to support Wisconsin governor Scott Walker
outside of the state capitol building. Speaking alongside Ryun were Andrew Breitbart
, Herman Cain
, novelist Brad Thor
, and others. Ryun, after speaking to an audience of an estimated ten thousand, appeared on "Fox and Friends" on the FoxNews channel.
American Majority
American Majority is a nonprofit, nonpartisan political training organization. Founded with an initial investment by the Sam Adams Alliance, the organization is funded by smaller individual donors. The organization provides political training to conservative activists and candidates in state and...
, an organization that identifies and trains candidates and activists who will become involved in local government, school district governance, or state legislatures. He is the publisher of NedRyun.com, a website on which he publishes the podcast series History of the Constitutional Convention, a collection of podcasts providing a behind the scenes look at the Philadelphia Convention
Philadelphia Convention
The Constitutional Convention took place from May 14 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to address problems in governing the United States of America, which had been operating under the Articles of Confederation following independence from...
; and Days of Revolution, a history of the American colonies from the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
until the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. Ryun has authored two books with his brother Drew Ryun. Ryun and his wife, Becca Parker Ryun, currently live in Purcellville, Virginia
Purcellville, Virginia
Purcellville is a town in the Loudoun Valley of Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. The population was 3,584 at the 2000 census, but has undergone considerable growth since then. Purcellville is the major population center for western Loudoun and the Loudoun Valley...
with their four children.
Education and Background
Ryun graduated co-valedictorian from Lawrence High School in Lawrence, KansasLawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
. He attended the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
from 1996 to 2000. Ryun graduated with honors in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. While there, Ryun also ran on the Cross Country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
and Track and Field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
teams.
Ryun, the son of former U.S. Congressman Jim Ryun
Jim Ryun
James Ronald Ryun is an American former track athlete and politician, who was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1996 to 2007, representing the 2nd District in Kansas. In the 2006 election, Ryun was defeated by Democratic challenger Nancy Boyda...
, was a former presidential writer for George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and the co-founder and former director of the Generation Joshua
Generation Joshua
Generation Joshua is an American Christian youth organization founded in 2003 that aims to encourage young people to learn about and become involved in government, history, civics, and politics...
program. Ryun currently sits on the board of the Madison Project.
Authored Books
Ned Ryun has co-authored two books with his father and twin brother, Drew Ryun. Heroes Among Us was released in 2002 and The Courage to Run was released in 2006.Media Appearances
Ryun has been featured on Fox News, CNNCNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, Politico
Politico (newspaper)
The Politico is an American political journalism organization based in Arlington, Virginia, that distributes its content via television, the Internet, newspaper, and radio. Its coverage of Washington, D.C., includes the U.S. Congress, lobbying, media and the Presidency...
and The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, among other notable media outlets. He is an occasional front page contributor to RedState.com, the "most widely read right of center blog on Capitol Hill." Ryun is also a regular contributor to the American Spectator website.
American Majority
In 2008, Ned Ryun founded American Majority, Inc., an organization devoted to identifying and training grassroots candidates for state and local elections. He currently serves as the group's president. American Majority is a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization.Ryun and American Majority gained notoriety during the 2011 Wisconsin protests
2011 Wisconsin protests
The 2011 Wisconsin protests were a series of demonstrations in the state of Wisconsin in the United States beginning in February involving at its zenith as many as 100,000 protestors opposing the Wisconsin Budget Repair Bill. Subsequently, anti-tax activists and other conservatives, including tea...
over the state's 2011 budget. While predominantly liberal protestors and members of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
labor unions filled the Wisconsin State Capitol
Wisconsin State Capitol
The Wisconsin State Capitol, in Madison, Wisconsin, houses both chambers of the Wisconsin legislature along with the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Office of the Governor. Completed during 1917, the building is the fifth to serve as the Wisconsin capitol since the first territorial legislature...
demanding that the Wisconsin Budget Repair Bill
Wisconsin Budget Repair Bill
The Wisconsin Budget Repair Bill was legislation proposed by Republican Governor Scott Walker and passed by the Wisconsin Legislature to address a projected $3.6 billion budget deficit.-Legislation summary:...
be defeated, Ryun and other organizations affiliated with the Tea Party
Tea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
organized a February 19th counter-rally to support Wisconsin governor Scott Walker
Scott Walker (politician)
Scott Kevin Walker is an American Republican politician who began serving as the 45th Governor of Wisconsin on January 3, 2011, after defeating Democratic candidate Tom Barrett, 52 percent to 47 percent in the November 2010 general election...
outside of the state capitol building. Speaking alongside Ryun were Andrew Breitbart
Andrew Breitbart
Andrew Breitbart is an American publisher, commentator for the Washington Times, author, an occasional guest commentator on various news programs who has served as an editor for the Drudge Report website...
, Herman Cain
Herman Cain
Herman Cain is a candidate for the 2012 U.S. Republican Party presidential nomination.Cain has a background as a business executive, syndicated columnist, and radio host from Georgia. He served as chairman and CEO of Godfather's Pizza from 1986 to 1996...
, novelist Brad Thor
Brad Thor
Brad Thor is a #1 New York Times bestselling thriller novelist and author of The Lions of Lucerne, Path of the Assassin, State of the Union, Blowback, Takedown, The First Commandment, The Last Patriot, The Apostle, Foreign Influence, The Athena Project and Full Black. His novels have been...
, and others. Ryun, after speaking to an audience of an estimated ten thousand, appeared on "Fox and Friends" on the FoxNews channel.