We Make New Leaders

Ned Ryun is a grassroots and conservative activism expert. He is the founder and CEO of American Majority, a non-partisan political training institute whose mission is to identify and mold the next wave of liberty-minded candidates, grassroots activists and community leaders. Since its founding in January of 2008, while under Ryun’s leadership, American Majority has trained over 36,000 candidates activists and in September will celebrate their 1,000 in-person training as part of an unprecedented national effort to recruit new community leaders.

A former writer for President George W. Bush and the son of former Olympic medalist and U.S. Rep. Jim Ryun (R-KS), Ned Ryun is highly sought after for his commentary on Tea Party politics, the national political scene, grassroots engagement and the conservative movement in general. Ryun has appeared on Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor,” “Hannity,” “Special Report with Brett Baier,” “Your World with Neil Cavuto,” “Fox & Friends,” ABC’s “World News Tonight” and has been quoted in numerous print publications including Time Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Politico, The Washington Post, and The Washington Times. He also writes a monthly column for The American Spectator.

Prior to launching American Majority, Ryun founded and directed Generation Joshua, a civics education program for middle and high school students that reached a membership of nearly 10,000. Ryun graduated with Highest Distinction (summa cum laude) from the University of Kansas with degrees in English and History. Together with his father and twin brother, Drew, he also authored Heroes Among Us and The Courage to Run.

Ned Ryun resides in Purcellville, Virginia, with his wife and four children.

Matt became National Executive Director following his tenure as Wisconsin Executive Director for American Majority. Under his leadership, the Wisconsin chapter of American Majority has trained 104 winning candidates at the state and local level, held over 100 trainings, and trained more than 3,800 individuals over 3.5 years. During the height of the 2011 union protests in Madison, Matt organized American Majority’s “I Stand with Walker” rally that gathered more than 10,000 patriots to show the nation their support for public sector union reforms. Prior to both Wisconsin recall elections (2011 and 2012), Matt executed training blitzes, to equip hundreds of activists on how to help their candidates at many locations across Wisconsin. Matt has also deployed a massive online army through co-creating a Twitter hashtag – #Wiright – designed to mobilize grassroots conservatives online in an unprecedented way.

Batzel has appeared on Fox News’ “Justice with Judge Jeanine,” TMJ4 (Milwaukee), WISC-TV (Madison), FOX 6 Milwaukee, Wisconsin Public Radio and has been quoted in numerous print and online publications including NYTimes.com, ABCNews.com, Politico, Roll Call, FoxBusiness.com, Reuters.com, CNBC.com, MSNBC.com, Yahoo News, Washington Examiner, Chicago Tribune, and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He also writes columns that have appeared on FOXNation, Townhall.com, Redstate.com, and RightWisconsin.com.

Prior to joining American Majority, Matt gained experience at the state and federal levels, including in all three branches of the federal government. He has a tax law background, having practiced in the private sector for over two years following his graduation from law school. He lives in Cedar Grove, Wisconsin with his wife and four children.

Bio Coming Soon

Lonny Leitner specializes in political training, campaign management, and voter education.

Lonny brings 14 years of public and private sector experience to American Majority. He worked for many years as a political operative, public relations public affairs specialist and his background in campaign management helped hone excellent leadership and motivational skills.

Lonny previously served as a Regional Director for a 501(c)3 non profit political training institute, American Majority and a 501(c)4 American Majority Action. During that time, he worked with candidates on media training and campaign management. Lonny headed up American Majority’s efforts in the upper Midwest as well as in the battle ground state of Florida. In the 2010 election cycle he helped train 100 candidates in Minnesota running for local, state, and federal offices, of which 94 won their primaries.

That same election cycle, Lonny spearheaded American Majority Action’s Get Out the Vote Efforts in Wisconsin, working successfully with local media outlets to further the movement. The group targeted a U.S. Senate race and three U.S. Congressional races, winning 3 out of the 4 contests. In 2012, Lonny oversaw the Get Out the Vote efforts in 6 target counties in Florida where they saw increases in the Conservative voter turn out compared to the 2008 results.

Lonny has worked on several campaigns in Minnesota. He worked for U.S. Senator Rod Grams in 2000 and Mark Kennedy's successful re-election campaign in 2002. He led the charge in 2004 as a Regional Field Director for Bush-Cheney and was Political Director for Congressman Mark Kennedy's U.S. Senate bid in 2006. Lonny has also worked on Federal campaigns in Texas for Congressman Henry Bonilla and Washington State for Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and most recently as campaign manager for Adam Hasner’s U.S. Senate race in Florida.

Lonny has successfully built relationships and pitched media opportunities for fortune 500 companies and small start-ups alike. His media background is diverse, and includes Ford Motor Company, a sustainable agriculture company, the telecom industry, a professional sports team, and the immigration reform movement.

Lonny was born and raised in Saint Paul, MN and graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI, with a Bachelor of Arts in political science.

Nick serves as Director of the Colorado chapter of American Majority. Since his graduation from Hillsdale College, Nick has lived and worked in Denver and Colorado Springs. His educational background is in economics and politics.

As an activist, Nick was involved as the Deputy Chair of the Minnesota Teenage Republicans and was a delegate to the Republican State Convention in 2010. In addition to volunteering for numerous conservative candidates and causes, Nick worked as a political consultant and has worked on 10 state and local campaigns in Colorado and Wyoming since 2014. Prior to joining American Majority, Nick served as director for the Faith & Freedom Coalition of Colorado, working to advance pro-life and religious liberty causes.

Nick is an alumnus member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and enjoys golf, baseball, and fishing in the Rockies. 

Jennifer DeJournett is serving her second term as an elected Commissioner of the Three Rivers Park District representing 174,000 residents.

As a well-known Republican political operative, Jennifer has appeared on local television and national political radio programs as a Republican political analyst and has been a speaker at conferences and training events.

Jennifer has been a contributor to numerous local and state legislative campaigns offering data-driven advice regarding campaign strategy and micro-targeting, volunteer recruitment, fundraising best practices and efficient and effective campaign operations.

Jennifer co-founded two organizations that encourage and engage women in the political process and support common sense, pocketbook women running for elected office. Her organizations have trained, elected and re-elected over 50 women to local, county and state legislative offices in four states.

In 2008, Jennifer was a volunteer for Catholics for McCain and recruited volunteers for their efforts at the Republican National Convention held in Minnesota. In 2011, Jennifer was the Minnesota Deputy State Director for the Newt Gingrich for President campaign.

In 2012, she led VOICES of Conservative Women’s efforts at the Iowa Straw Poll. Those efforts included hosting a Presidential Candidate Forum breakfast and constructing, staffing and managing a large reception area on the straw poll grounds in partnership with a local women’s organization as well as speaking to National and International media regarding the importance of engaging women voters to support Republican candidates.

In 2015, Jennifer was the Minnesota State Director for CARLY for America, the Super PAC supporting Carly Fiorina. Jennifer recruited and managed the Minnesota field staff, developed a statewide Minnesota political strategy, managed the Minnesota ground efforts of innovative voter identification and recruitment and supported the National CFA team’s efforts.

Jennifer lives in Maple Grove with her husband and four children. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Iowa State University and has completed a Mini MBA through the University of St. Thomas Executive Education Series. She is also currently pursuing a second-degree accounting and management.

Angela is the Director of Operations for American Majority. She has an extensive professional background in higher education and program management. Angela has experience in grant writing, supervision, government, and online education.

Angela graduated from Blue Ridge Community & Technical College as a Phi Theta Kappa honor society member with certificates and LORs in Business, Management, Marketing, and Technology. She is a mother of four children and three grandchildren. She loves politics and genealogy and is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Scott Ellis is the Wisconsin Campus Director for American Majority. His position takes him to different campuses throughout the state and nation to equip conservative campus groups grow and become more effective in their mission. Scott is the co-creator of American Majority’s Campaign-In-A-Day event which puts attendees through the rigors of the campaign process during an interactive and competitive training. Prior to his position at American Majority, Scott interned in Senator Ron Johnson’s Washington D.C. and Milwaukee offices. Scott graduated from Olivet Nazarene University in December 2013, with a Bachelors of Arts in political science. Scott currently lives in Wisconsin’s Lake Country in the City of Oconomowoc.

Lauren Farrell became the Office Coordinator for American Majority in Spring of 2016 and was promoted to Executive Assistant in 2017. She has enjoyed working with the public for six years in positions ranging from retail to reception. Raised by conservative parents, Lauren has had an interest in politics since she was young and holds a strong belief in the ideals that our Founding Fathers set forth. She enjoys classic country and blues music, car shows, and spending time with her boxer, Cali and fiancé, Dustin. She resides in Berryville, Virginia.

Dan Degner is an intern with American Majority Wisconsin.  Dan has developed his interests and skills in campaigning through the 2016 election cycle.  Dan has received youth campaign training through the Leadership Institute and the Conservative Leadership PAC.  In 2016 Dan served as an intern at his party's field office, where he focused on voter contact and outreach.   He is a rising Junior at Liberty University where he is majoring in Pastoral Leadership.  Dan serves as an active member in the Pro-Life club on campus while also playing on the Division 3 Men’s Hockey team.  Dan hopes to go to seminary after college and enter full-time ministry while also being involved in part-time local politics.