Local Virginia student Evan Draim will be the youngest delegate at the Republican National Convention this year. Draim, who is 17, but will be eligible to vote by Election Day, was one of 8 contenders attempting to get the delegate spot. He called over 700 members of the Republican Party registered to vote at the state convention, and made personal appearances to local tea party and conservative gatherings. “Almost every night of the week, I’d finish school, do whatever after-school activities I had and to go to tea party gatherings, local Republican meetings,” he says. “It was quite a process.”
Since gaining the seat at the convention, he has continued to go door to door for the GOP. Draim has been to two state conventions in Virginia, the first one being in 2009. “I view it as my responsibility to give back to the country that has given them so much, and I want to make sure the American dream that helped my ancestors is there for future generations of immigrants and graduating students,” he says. He agrees with the GOP’s platform of a smaller, limited government.
