On a sprawling estate stretching across more than 1,200 acres in Aldie, Virginia lies Oak Hill, the last privately-owned residence that once belonged to an American President. Yet, Oak Hill is more than a handsome brick house perched above Northern Virginia’s rolling countryside. It is a tangible stitch in the fabric of our nation. 

The estate was once home to James Monroe, our fifth president and a Founding Father whose name is entwined with the expansion and the diplomacy of the early Republic. The last in a dynasty of Virginia-born Presidents, he served his nascent nation in the years following the War of 1812 and oversaw the reconstruction of the White House, the Capitol Building and other structures throughout Washington, D.C. following the devastating fires set by the British. 

Yet it is from here, at Oak Hill, that he crafted his greatest legacy as President of the United States – the Monroe Doctrine. President Monroe spent several years at this address in Loudoun County and retired here following his two terms in office.

Preserving Oak Hill as a public park would give Virginians and Americans a place to study Monroe’s life and legacy and to celebrate the commonwealth that produced so many leaders of the early United States. Recent momentum behind that idea, led by Delegate Geary Higgins and embraced by Governor Glenn Youngkin, feels like the right answer to a rare opportunity. That momentum gained significant ground in November 2025, when The Conservation Fund announced it had officially acquired the entire 1,200-acre Oak Hill estate, ensuring the property will be protected from subdivision and development while plans for a state park advance.

The construction of Oak Hill was a massive undertaking. Prior to James Monroe’s ownership in 1808, the estate boasted little more than a simple dwelling and the outbuildings on the working farm, many of which could be dated back to when the land was originally granted to Lord Fairfax in 1724. 

It was not until the British burning of Washington in 1814 that James Monroe decided to transform the property he inherited from his uncle into a fine country house. At the time, Aldie was a full day’s carriage ride from Washington D.C. and provided enough distance for him, his wife, and their two daughters to reside outside of the city.

Over the course of three years, Monroe poured his finances into the project. By 1823 he had a magnificent home, but a dwindling bank account.

During his time in Loudoun, he was active in the production and trade of his crops. A ledger from the time even bears his name at the nearby Aldie Mill where he was a regular customer.

Tragically, Monroe was forced to sell Oak Hill a mere seven years after its completion. By that time he had already sold off his other properties in Virginia, but he still did not have the funds to keep this estate. 

A year later he wrote to James Madison from where he lived with his daughter in New York that, “It is very distressing to me to sell my property in Loudoun, for besides parting with all I have in the State, I indulged a hope, if I could retain it, that I might be able occasionally to visit it, and meet my friends, or many of them, there.”

Within Oak Hill’s rooms and on its lands lie threads that connect to the Monroe Doctrine, to discussions between Jefferson and Monroe about architecture and republic-building, and to quieter domestic histories that shaped the man who led the country during the so-called “Era of Good Feelings.” For too long Oak Hill has remained privately held while its stories sat largely inaccessible to the public. Turning that estate into a place where students, historians, and families can walk the very fields Monroe walked is not mere nostalgia, it’s civic education.

Delegate Geary Higgins’ advocacy has helped convert local concern into political traction. Higgins has been a consistent voice for preserving Oak Hill, working with community leaders, conservation organizations, and the property’s current owners to explore a path that protects the landscape and interprets its layered histories. 

The most recent development is consequential: Governor Youngkin has pledged to include the Oak Hill State Park plan in his final budget proposal to the General Assembly ahead of the 2026 session. In the meantime, The Conservation Fund—now the official steward of the property—has begun managing and securing the estate, hiring a property manager and overseeing maintenance while coordination with the Commonwealth continues.

Governor Youngkin stated, “I have been so excited about this project since we first started talking about it, and I am giving my commitment, today, that I will include in my introduced budget in December, authorization for the state to fund its portion of acquiring this historic property and establishing a new State Park in Northern Virginia.”

That commitment signals a willingness at the executive level to invest in preserving a site that belongs to more than one neighborhood or one family — but to the commonwealth. 

Delegate Geary Higgins reaffirmed his commitment to the project, sharing, “True to my word, I did not give up on Oak Hill, and now with Governor Youngkin’s commitment, we can be sure it will be back next session. I hope my Democrat colleagues in the Virginia General Assembly will do the right thing: support Oak Hill and preserve this piece of history for future generations.”

Though centuries have passed since James Monroe called Oak Hill and Loudoun County home, his legacy is still evident in both the house he loved and the nation he served.

Virginia is, by any measure, a cradle of early American leadership: presidents, thinkers, and activists walked these hills. Oak Hill, with its architecture influenced by Jeffersonian ideas and with physical traces of both prominent visitors and nameless laborers, offers a classroom that textbooks alone cannot provide. With The Conservation Fund’s acquisition now securing the estate’s future and preparations underway for its eventual transfer to public ownership, the possibility of Oak Hill becoming Virginia’s next state park feels more tangible than ever.

The post This Founding Father’s Estate Could Become Virginia’s Next State Park first appeared on American Majority.

Janessa Pogue, a 28-year-old homeschool graduate, has become a notable figure in the political landscape, thanks to her dedication and passion for making a difference. Janessa’s journey began in her childhood, growing up in a politically active family. “I remember our family working on a campaign for a homeschool father and friend of ours back when I was about 10 years old,” she recalls. This early exposure to political campaigns set the stage for her future endeavors.

Over the years, Janessa’s involvement in politics has been extensive and varied. She worked on her grandfather’s campaign for county commissioner and was elected as a precinct committee member in her local county in Oregon. During this time, she organized parades, booths, election events, and campaign promotions, and even testified against a serious gun control bill introduced in the Oregon Senate. These activities helped her build a robust political network, connecting with state and U.S. representatives and senators.

Janessa’s move to Idaho did not slow her political momentum. She worked on a campaign to flip a senate seat and was elected as her county’s Republican State Committeewoman in the last primary election. Her desire to make a difference is deeply rooted in her belief that she is here to advance the Kingdom of God. “For me, that does not entail sitting on the sidelines, but rather getting in the fight and serving my community in a variety of ways. One of those is politics. And since I am a people person who loves servant leadership, networking and organizing, and the challenge and high-paced action of politics, it has been a natural fit for me,” Janessa explains.

A pivotal part of Janessa’s political education came from attending the Campaign-In-A-Day (CIAD) training at the Patriot Academy Leadership Congress events, first in Idaho in June 2021 and then again in Texas in August 2022. 

Reflecting on her experience, she says, “My experience with CIAD was wonderful! I think it is an amazing program with a powerful influence to teach young people the intricate system of the election process in a short amount of time; yet do it in a memorable and effective manner!” She emerged from the training with confidence and a skill set that allowed her to take on almost any role in a real campaign.

Janessa’s most recent and notable campaign effort involved working with Idaho Citizens for Good Government (ICGG), a non-partisan, non-profit think tank that includes her mother, Rossella Pogue. The group’s research uncovered alarming information about the sitting Senate Pro Temp, Chuck Winder. Winder was found to be a significant spender and had used over $30,000 of his campaign funds for questionable travel expenses in an unopposed race.

Determined to make a change, ICGG, led by Rossella Pogue, mobilized a group of homeschool young people to canvas District 20 in Meridian, ID, just before the primary election in May. Their goal was to persuade constituents to vote against Chuck Winder and support Josh Keysor, a military veteran and promising candidate. The campaign was a success, and Keysor was elected, thanks in part to the efforts of Janessa and her team.

Janessa played a crucial role in organizing, communicating, and handling logistics for the campaign. She utilized her extensive network in the homeschool community to recruit volunteers and coordinated with Patriot Academy’s Constitution Coach program to bring in new activists. She also worked closely with Josh Keysor’s campaign manager to implement a canvassing app that targeted Republican voters, ensuring efficient and effective canvassing.

The campaign faced several challenges, such as distributing flyers, targeting the right voters, and dealing with unfriendly respondents. However, Janessa and her team overcame these obstacles through strategic planning and teamwork. Their efforts covered over 1,700 homes, resulting in an estimated 300 votes for Keysor, who won by 281 votes. The campaign manager credited Janessa’s team with making a significant difference in the election outcome.

Janessa’s experience with CIAD proved invaluable during this campaign. “For me, understanding and having the training that CIAD provided made it seem easy to take on a canvassing role to engage voters in conversations on their top 3 issues and turn that conversation into the channels we wanted them to go was a huge advantage!” she says. The success of the campaign was not only a testament to the effectiveness of door-to-door canvassing but also a powerful example of young people making a real difference.

Janessa’s journey is an inspiring story of dedication, leadership, and the impact of grassroots organizing. Her efforts have shown that with passion, training, and a supportive network, it is possible to create meaningful change in the political landscape. As she continues to serve her community, Janessa remains a shining example of what it means to be an engaged and active patriot.

The post From Homeschool Graduate to Political Powerhouse first appeared on American Majority.

In a small city where community involvement is both valued and necessary, Lydia Fletcher decided to turn concern into action. “I had been attending city council meetings for about five years. I was concerned with some of the policies I was seeing on the current council and I wanted to step up and be a part of the solution,” reflects Fletcher.

The journey from concerned citizen to elected official is never easy, and for someone who identifies as introverted, the challenges can seem insurmountable. “I have always hated the concept of campaigning because I tend to be very introverted and the whole process is out of my comfort zone,” she shares. Despite this, the rigorous and immersive experience provided by the Campaign-in-a-Day (CIAD) program turned out to be transformative. “Initially, I did not enjoy Campaign-in-a-Day. However, the more I have gone through the program, the more I see the importance of what I am learning, and now I would absolutely recommend the program to others!”

One of the pivotal learning experiences came from understanding the effectiveness of various voter contact methods. “At one point in the program there is a brief discussion on different types of voter contacts and which ones are more effective. Between my training and some good advisors at home, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and do a doorbelling campaign. I was the only candidate in my city to do so and I believe it played a role in getting my name and ideas out into the community.” This hands-on approach allowed the candidate to connect directly with voters, fostering a sense of community and trust that would prove crucial in the election.

Public speaking, another significant hurdle, was tackled with the support of the CIAD and Patriot Academy programs. “A key moment that stands out to me is the candidate forum shortly before the election. Public speaking has always been a challenge for me. After the debate was over, my dad told me that he could see how much Patriot Academy has improved my public speaking. I still have lots to learn, and I look forward to coming back and continuing to learn from all CIAD and Patriot Academy have to offer!” These programs not only helped improve my public speaking skills but also provided a supportive environment to practice and grow.

Building a strong support network was another essential element of the campaign. “Grassroots organizing is still an area that I need to continue growing in. However, I was able to build a team of advisers and prayer warriors that as a councilmember I can still turn to whenever I need them.” This team provided the emotional and strategic support necessary for Lydia to navigate the complexities of the campaign and the responsibilities of the new role.

The journey from a concerned citizen to an elected councilmember is a testament to the power of stepping out of one’s comfort zone, seeking continuous improvement, and relying on a supportive community. With the foundation laid by programs like Campaign-In-A-Day, this new councilmember is poised to bring positive change to her city, driven by a commitment to being part of the solution.

The post From Concerned Citizen to Councilmember: A Journey of Growth and Determination first appeared on American Majority.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

Media Contact: Nate Nelson nate@americanmajority.org  

April 3, 2024

90 American Majority Trained New Leaders Win 

New Local Leaders win across state of Wisconsin

Oshkosh, WI – Following Wisconsin’s Spring Election, 90 American Majority Trained New Leaders were elected. Congratulations to all of the winners on well run campaigns. American Majority Trained New Leaders had an excellent win ratio this year as 108 ran for office and 90 of them won their spring elections – 83% win rate.  

Conservatives stepped up to take back local government across Wisconsin. The special highlight was conservative judges and local executives winning their elections in Winnebago County, Racine County, Waukesha County, and Washington County.  

American Majority works to build a farm team of New Leaders at all levels of government. Our trained New Leaders include 3 local executives, 1 Judge, 4 School Board Members, 59 County Leaders, and 23 Municipal Leaders. The farm team builds from the local and state levels of government. These leaders are also the folks who will hopefully take the next step to run for higher office down the road, creating a pipeline of conservative public service. 

Nate Nelson, the Wisconsin Executive Director of American Majority, said “Congratulations to all the winners! Since opening our Wisconsin office in October 2010, we have trained 336 New Leaders who’ve gone on to victory across Wisconsin. American Majority is helping to ensure that solid conservative candidates have the tools to become successful in their campaigns and we are thrilled to see these results in Wisconsin.” 

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About American Majority

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training institute that believes change must begin at the local level, through engaged citizens effectively implementing freedom. We believe that individual liberty is achieved through limited government and free markets. We believe in lowering the barrier to entry for citizen participation in our republic. By training new leaders and activists to be effective today, we are enhancing America’s tomorrow.  Visit us on the web at www.americanmajority.org or follow us on Twitter @AM_National.

The post 90 American Majority Trained New Leaders Win first appeared on American Majority.

On Friday, Green Bay Election Observer Janet Angus won an important battle in the fight for transparent elections. A Brown County Circuit Court Judge ruled in Angus’ favor over the City of Green Bay, who had retaliated against her. This case stems from Green Bay City Clerk Celestine Jeffreys accepting multiple absentee ballots on election day in Spring 2022. Janet Angus bravely challenged this illegal acceptance, was rebuffed by the City Clerk, and then had the City of Green Bay try to intimidate her. Janet Angus’ court victory on Friday is a significant win for election integrity.

Wisconsin law (Wis. Stat. 7.41(1)) states that election observers have a right to “be present at any polling place, in the office of any municipal clerk whose office is located in a public building on any day that absentee ballots may be cast in that office.” Yet when Janet Angus followed this law in the April 2022 Spring Election, she was charged with disorderly conduct for pointing out that Clerk Jeffreys was not following Wisconsin law in accepting multiple absentee ballots from voters. Angus was not engaging in any disruptive behavior, interfering with voting, or intimidating anyone. When she saw wrongdoing, she went to the City Clerk, which is what you are supposed to do. Angus did this in a conversational tone of voice, keeping her voice down so as not to cause a disturbance. She asked if the Clerk had accepted 2 ballots and the Clerk admitted she had. Janet Angus then objected and challenged the Clerk for taking the two ballots in violation of Wisconsin law (Wis. Stat. 6.87 (4)(b)(1) says the absentee envelope is to be delivered in person to the municipal clerk). Janet Angus also filed a complaint with the Wisconsin Elections Commission for Clerk Jeffries breaking the law.

About 3 months later, the City of Green Bay charged Janet Angus with municipal disorderly conduct. Rather than address the issue the day the supposed incident occurred, the court transcript reveals that this investigation began weeks later after a city official reached out to the police department.

The initial case was tried in Municipal Court, where the Municipal Judge ruled for the City and found Janet Angus guilty of municipal disorderly conduct. So Janet Angus appealed the ruling, requesting a new trial before a Brown County Circuit Court Judge. This trial took place on Friday. Circuit Court Judge Tammy Jo Hock presided over the trial. After she heard the testimony, Judge Hock gave a directed verdict for Janet Angus, finding that the city did not meet their burden of proof of disorderly conduct. Judge Hock said “there was absolutely no disturbance.”  She then described the city’s actions “absolutely ludicrous” and opined that “this municipal citation was retaliatory due to the Wisconsin Elections complaint that was filed.” These city actions reveal a brazen attempt to silence and intimidate their political critics using city resources.

Unfortunately, Green Bay City Officials have taken many actions that have undermined the public’s trust in their handling of elections. The Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) responded to the complaint about accepting the absentee ballots and found probable cause that a violation of law or abuse of discretion occurred by Clerk Jeffreys. They directed Clerk Jeffreys to amend her absentee ballot acceptance policy, thereby proving Janet Angus was correct to challenge it.

In the 2020 Spring election, the city controversially reduced polling locations from 31 down to 2, creating a 2-4 hour wait to vote. In the 2020 Fall election, a Green Bay Press Gazette report found Green Bay City officials took over the running of the election, creating a hostile work environment and forced out the former City Clerk. In that election, Green Bay was the last municipality in all of Wisconsin to report its election results. The former Brown County clerk even said that election was “tainted.” In the February Spring Primary 2022, the city began counting absentee ballots BEFORE the public notice posted time.  In November 2022, a Brown County Court enjoined Clerk Jeffreys “from preventing or restricting members of the public from observing” early voting. This pattern of undermining the public trust is very problematic.

The disorderly conduct charge is part of a larger American leftist attempt to limit election observer access. The Left wants to dissuade citizens from observing how elections are run.

The irony is that the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteurs for Human Rights Defenders and for the Right to Peaceful Assembly and Association have explicitly recognized election observers, in particular nonpartisan citizen observers, as human rights defenders. UN member states are urged “to take all necessary steps to establish conditions…to protect them [election observers] from any violence, threats, retaliation, adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of their legitimate exercise of their rights and freedoms.” So Janet Angus should be applauded as a human rights defender!

At the beginning of another major election year, it is critical that the public has confidence in how our elections are run. A look at how the City of Green Bay has run their elections and retaliated against observers standing up for the rule of law, is concerning. Both sides of the political aisle should come together and celebrate a win for election integrity in Green Bay and continue to push for more transparency.

The post Matt Batzel: Big Win for Election Integrity in Green Bay first appeared on American Majority.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

Media Contact: Nate Nelson nate@americanmajority.org  

April 6, 2023

20 American Majority Trained New Leaders Win 

10 School Board Winners across state of Wisconsin

Oshkosh, WI – Following Wisconsin’s Spring Election, 20 American Majority Trained New Leaders were elected. Congratulations to all of the winners on well run campaigns. American Majority Trained New Leaders had an excellent win ratio this year as 27 ran for office and 20 of them won their spring elections – 74% win rate.  

Conservatives stepped up to take back local government across Wisconsin. The special highlight was conservatives winning tough school board elections in Oshkosh and Wausau. First-time candidates Kelly DeWitt and Jennifer Paoli won seats on these school boards. 

American Majority works to build a farm team of New Leaders at all levels of government. Our trained New Leaders include 1 Judge, 10 School Board Members, and  9 Municipal Leaders. The farm team builds from the local and state levels of government. These leaders are also the folks who will hopefully take the next step to run for higher office down the road, creating a pipeline of conservative public service. 

Nate Nelson, the Wisconsin Executive Director of American Majority, said “Congratulations to all the winners! Since opening our Wisconsin office in October 2010, we have trained nearly 320 New Leaders who’ve gone on to victory across Wisconsin. American Majority is helping to ensure that solid conservative candidates have the tools to become successful in their campaigns and we are thrilled to see these results in Wisconsin.” 

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About American Majority

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training institute that believes change must begin at the local level, through engaged citizens effectively implementing freedom. We believe that individual liberty is achieved through limited government and free markets. We believe in lowering the barrier to entry for citizen participation in our republic. By training new leaders and activists to be effective today, we are enhancing America’s tomorrow.  Visit us on the web at www.americanmajority.org or follow us on Twitter @AM_National.

The post 20 American Majority Trained New Leaders Win first appeared on American Majority.

If politics were a sport and political parties were sports teams where you and your fellow players must work together to reach a common goal of winning, there would be various plays that would have to be executed to achieve that objective. In my opinion, the most important “play” in politics is activism. More people will be activists than politicians. This is clear. So, why not make your ground game as effective as possible with purposeful activism?

Analyzing the success of each party in utilizing activism, the Left gets a 10 out of 10 for their outstanding deployment of the play. They easily pivot and apply the “next best thing” with ease and sheer determination. They have moved through the channels of social media, Hollywood, the music industry, fashion, and so on so handily that it almost seems second nature to them. 

Meanwhile, the Right still doesn’t understand the importance of social media in our current climate. Hell, some on the Right still don’t understand email or the internet. If this were a race, the Right would be barely getting out of the blocks. Needless to say, this is not conducive to victory.

READ MORE

The post American Politics Is Not a Spectator Sport first appeared on American Majority.

Before his name was immortalized in the oh-so-popular musical or his likeness graced the reverse side of our ten dollar bill, Alexander Hamilton made a name for himself as Washington’s Aide-De-Camp in the American revolution, penned several of the Federalist papers, and served as the first Secretary of the Treasury.

The founding father was born on this day in either 1755 or 1777 (no one knows for sure which year is accurate). To commemorate his birthday, we’ve collected a few of his quotes that still resonate with patriots today. Which is your favorite? Let us know!

“Remember civil and religious liberty always go together: if the foundation of the one be sapped, the other will fall of course.”

“The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed.”

“Give all the power to the many, they will oppress the few. Give all the power to the few, they will oppress the many.”

“When a government betrays the people by amassing too much power and becoming tyrannical, the people have no choice but to exercise their original right of self-defense — to fight the government.”

The post 4 Times Alexander Hamilton Hit the Nail on the Head first appeared on American Majority.

I don’t agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

We are a far cry from this once-acclaimed statement of classical liberalism. Misinformation. Fact checkers. Social media suspensions or total account bans. How soft can society become? I’m not sure if I should even ask because on a daily basis we seem to grow softer. 

I believe in free speech. Not like people who say they believe in free speech, “but . . . ” No. I believe in free speech, period. Granted, things others find offensive, I do not. I’m a rather offensive person myself. I cuss, I laugh at the darkest of humor, I create my own dark humor; what can I say, it’s funny watching people squirm or get offended over words. But when being offended by someone’s opinion or statement bleeds into canceling them from all social media platforms or having that person fired simply because you don’t approve? This is where we collectively need to draw a line. 

I expect the Left to cancel. They relish the thought of being offensive, but oftentimes they play the offended victim because these days, victimhood sells. It’s typical. But what’s worse than that is seeing people who say they believe in free speech join in with elitists on the Left to finish someone off. It’s shameful. 

Who exactly gets to choose what is off limits to discuss? Is it you this week? Will it be the president next week? A social media CEO? Who gets to decide when free speech has been taken too far? These are the questions we should be asking. You can’t pick and choose what is acceptable when it works in your favor and then become outraged when someone else picks and chooses something not in your favor. 

It’s simple: free speech cannot work under those hypocritical guidelines. 

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The post Words Don’t Speak Louder than Actions first appeared on American Majority.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

Media Contact: Nate Nelson nate@americanmajority.org  

November 9, 2022

152 American Majority Trained New Leaders Win in 2022

28 New Leaders win Fall Elections in Wisconsin

Oshkosh, WI – Following Wisconsin’s Fall Election, 152 American Majority Trained New Leaders were elected this year, including 28 Fall winners. Congratulations to all of the winners on well run campaigns. American Majority Trained New Leaders had an excellent win ratio this year as 226 ran for office and 152 of them won their elections – 67% win rate.  

The Fall Election highlights were in the State Senate with 4 newly elected State Senators: Cory Tomczyk, Rachael Cabral-Guevara, Jesse James, and Rob Hutton. 

American Majority works to build a farm team of New Leaders at all levels of government. Our trained New Leaders for the Fall Cycle include 6 State Senators, 20 State Assemblymen and Assemblywomen, and 2 County Level Officials. The farm team builds from the local and state levels of government. These leaders are also the folks who will hopefully take the next step to run for higher office down the road, creating a pipeline of conservative public service. 

Nate Nelson, the Wisconsin Executive Director of American Majority, said “Congratulations to all the winners! Since opening our Wisconsin office in October 2010, we have trained 302 New Leaders who’ve gone on to victory across Wisconsin. American Majority is helping to ensure that solid conservative candidates have the tools to become successful in their campaigns and we are thrilled to see these results in Wisconsin.” 

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About American Majority

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training institute that believes change must begin at the local level, through engaged citizens effectively implementing freedom. We believe that individual liberty is achieved through limited government and free markets. We believe in lowering the barrier to entry for citizen participation in our republic. By training new leaders and activists to be effective today, we are enhancing America’s tomorrow.  Visit us on the web at www.americanmajority.org or follow us on Twitter @AM_National.

The post 152 American Majority Trained New Leaders Win in 2022 first appeared on American Majority.