Next January 2025, people from all across Washington state will gather for the 16th Annual Roanoke Conference, a yearly gathering in Washington State for engaging in open dialogue on political issues, and no-barriers networking among elected officials, prominent political thinkers, college students, and grassroots activists.
Attendees will come from a diverse set of backgrounds: elected officials including statewide, federal, legislative, and local officeholders, campaign professionals, representatives from policy groups and think tanks, industry professionals, and grassroots activists old and young. They come to the beach in the midst of winter because the Roanoke Conference has become their “retreat,” a congenial and social setting for renewing solidarity and christening new connections.
For 15 years now, they have come in growing numbers to discuss trends in politics, hear from experts on our most important issues, hear from the young people in our party and work together to find solutions to common problems, and forge relationships that will be crucial in winning political battles on the road ahead.
The original concept for the Roanoke was hatched as good ideas should be – between close friends who share a passion for politics. Their idea: To create a retreat-like atmosphere in which the up-and-coming generation of people passionate and interested in public policy and politics could form bonds that might knit together frayed coalitions in a swing “blue” state.
By only its second year, the Roanoke seemed to have met its own standard, earning a reputation as what The Seattle Times dubbed the “must-attend event for … Republican leaders” in Washington state.
The Roanoke Conference has achieved that growth by successfully cultivating an inclusive and friendly atmosphere, attracting respected speakers to participate in panels addressing critical issues on the horizon, hosting the state-wide College Republicans annual meeting, and recruiting some of our nation’s most sought-after political voices to deliver the keynote at the conference’s signature Saturday evening gala dinner which is topped off by the ever so popular comedy program Political Science Theater 3000, described by Joel Connelly as “a humor show, often subtle, genuinely funny.”
With that formula, conference attendance has steadily risen year after year, from 265 in the inaugural year of 2010 to over 500 by 2015, and a record attendance of 600 in 2023.
Board Members
Board members are volunteers who work hard to make this conference possible
Tessa Ester
Arthur Whitten
Julie Nichols
Kaitlin Vintertun
Carson Coates
Dan Brady
Ashlee Stubbs
Laudan Espinoza
Stephanie Barnett
Jake Mayson
Todd Myers
Sean O’Brien
Mariya Frost
Kimberly Wirtz
Joel Baxter
Glen Morgan
Elizabeth Doll
Amy Harris
Quick Facts
Common questions about the Roanoke Conference
The Roanoke Name
No relation whatsoever to Roanoke Virginia, the name "Roanoke Conference" comes from the Roanoke Inn on Mercer Island as this is where the idea of the conference was first conceived over a few beers.
Same Weekend Every Year
The Roanoke Conference is always held on the final full weekend of January. That weekend also happens to have no football as it is the weekend bye prior the Super Bowl. We like our sports. (Update: The NFL did not consult with us first and extended the season, moving the bye week to early February. This means there is football on Sunday, however our conference ends hours before kickoff.)
Why Ocean Shores?
Well why the hell not? Ocean Shores is awesome even in January!