Overview

The Gandall Administration faced a rocky election and term of office. In early 2019, just prior to elections, the CCR slate (Revive CCR) running against the Gandall slate (Champion CCR) suspended their campaign in protest. Revive CCR was led by members that generally opposed the Rowlands Admin and viewed Kimo Gandall as an extension of Rowlands policy. Namely, they were upset over personal disputes and the existence of the Judicial board and Committee system. Revive members believed that a democratic election would not be fair, insinuating that Champion and the Rowlands Admin were conspiring to rig the outcome. Champion vehemently denied these accusations. However, Instead of standing for election in CCR and advocating for the reforms they wanted, Revive encouraged CCR chapters throughout the state to decharter from CCR and form a new organization, the California Federation of College Republicans (CFCR).

At the California Republican Party Convention just prior to CCR's 2019 Convention, members of the emerging CFCR movement introduced an amendment to decharter CCR from the California Republican Party. The amendment was met with gasps of shock from Republican Party members, and the measure was voted down in a near-unanimous voice vote of over 1,000 delegates. Upset with the building drama between CCR and CFCR, the California Republican Party stepped in to help mediate.

The election of Kimo Gandall as Chair took place on March 3, 2019. Gandall's victory speech was solemn and called for unity between the now fractured organization. As mediation began, Gandall agreed to most of CFCR's terms for unification as long as a democratic election were held for a new board. CFCR refused this condition, and as Summer 2019 approached, CCR and CFCR were launched into a civil war over the College Republican National Charter.

In what CCR views as a "corrupt bargain," the historically anti-CCR College Republican National Committee Chairman, Chandler Thornton (upset with CCR over a myriad of issues such as exposing CRNC's $3 million of debt), opened up negotiations over whether CCR or CFCR would be chartered by the CRNC organization. Thornton appointed a mediator to work with both sides, whom was denied access to CCR's defense documents by Thornton. Gandall and his delegation agreed to every demand for unification made by CFCR, merely asking for a democratic election for a new board in exchange. CFCR refused these conditions. Armed primarily with CFCR's arguments and alleged statements from past CCR Chairs favoring CFCR, the mediator sided with CFCR. Chairman Thornton then, in violation of the CRNC Constitution, unilaterally revoked CCR's charter and gave it to CFCR. He then appointed CFCR members to prominent committee positions, allegedly to bolster his reelection odds. CCR appealed this decision on legal grounds, but was notified that the appeal process was indefinitely postponed.

Shortly after, CFCR, armed with the National Charter, again filed an amendment to decharter CCR from the California Republican Party. This time, the Rules Committee favored the amendment on the condition that neither organization would have a permanent charter until they could work out their drama. The Rules Committee Chairman agreed to mediate between the two sides and force a unity election before the next Party Convention. CCR vehemently opposed this idea, arguing that CFCR refused to hold elections and that the move would encourage more civil war. Ultimately, the Committee and Party did not listen. CCR's permanent charter was struck by voice vote in October 2019, and both CCR and CFCR became temporary charters under the CAGOP.

The Gandall Admin then pursued negotiations with CFCR and the Party. The Rules Committee Chairman oversaw an agreement between Co-Chair Hannah Stanford and CFCR Chairman Matt Ronnau to hold a unity election in spring 2020. As CCR expected, CFCR's board rejected Ronnau's unilateral agreement and refused further negotiation on a unity election with CCR and the Party. Newly elected CFCR Chairman Nick Steinwender said of this: "There is absolutely no unity election between CFCR and CCR. CFCR has voted and unanimously rejected a unification with CCR twice."

The Party, therefore, tasked CCR with staging a unity election anyway, open to any CFCR members who wished to participate. CCR expected to receive its charter back after the unity election was held. Chairman Gandall deeply regretted not securing a full unity election.

Despite the bitter drama throughout his term, Gandall's Admin was successful in fundraising, providing another year of chapter box materials, revamping the CCR website, reviving The Moxie Magazine (as a blog), and hosting several deployments throughout the state for target races.

Officers

In no particular order:
Kimo Gandall, Chairman (2019 - 2020)
Hannah Stanford, Co-Chair (2019 - 2020)
Marc Jacob, Chief of Staff (2019 - 2019)
Philip Eykamp, Secretary (2019 - 2020, resigned)
Dylan Martin, Communications Director (2018 - 2020)
Nicholas Ortiz, Deputy Communications Director (2019 - 2020), Secretary (2020-2020)
Matthew Vitale, Advocate General (2019 - 2020), Associate Justice (2018-2019)
John Rice-Cameron, Bay Area Vice Chair (2019 - 2020)
Brice Adams, Capitol Vice Chair (2019 - 2020)
Floyd Johnson II, Activism Director (2019 - 2020)
Caroline Martin, Central Coast Vice Chair (2019 - 2020)
Chris Casillas, Acting Central Valley Vice Chair (2019)
Nathan Harper, Central Valley Vice Chair (2019 - 2020)
Michael Whittaker, Treasurer (2019 - 2020)
Ryan Pavey, Sergeant-At-Arms (2019 - 2020)
Panagiotis Frousiakis, Executive Director (2019 - 2020)
Jordynne Jarvis, San Diego Vice Chair (2019 - 2020)
Paloma Chacon, Southern Vice Chair (2019 - 2020)

Committee Chairmen: Dylan Martin (Marketing, 2018 - 2020)

Achievements

Reintroduction of Moxie Magazine

Moxie Magazine was CCR's extensive magazine series that spanned from 2003-2011. Communications Director Dylan Martin uncovered old Moxie archives during research on the Cheyenne Steel Admin (daughter of Republican National Committeemen Shawn Steel). Martin and Deputy Comms. Director Nick Ortiz viewed a full production of Moxie to be unrealistic, instead opting to rebrand it as a blog. The Moxie Blog is now CCR's active news and commentary source.