{"id":6181,"date":"2024-12-12T11:19:23","date_gmt":"2024-12-12T19:19:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/?page_id=6181"},"modified":"2025-05-20T16:26:31","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T23:26:31","slug":"jessica-millan-patterson","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/center-for-political-future\/fellows-program\/former-fellows\/jessica-millan-patterson\/","title":{"rendered":"Jessica Millan Patterson"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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\n Spring 2025 Fellow\n <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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Jessica Millan Patterson is the former Chairwoman of the California Republican Party and was the first woman, Latina, and millennial to hold the position. Elected in 2019, she led the party with a no-nonsense approach, moving it onto the offensive against Democrats. Under her leadership, California Republicans made historic gains.<\/p>\n

Throughout her tenure, Patterson has strengthened Republican influence in California, with voters aligning with the party on numerous ballot initiatives. Between 2019 and 2023, over 821,000 new Republicans joined the voter rolls, with nearly $108 million raised for the Party. In 2022 her innovative voter contact program, with 93,000 volunteers, reached over 49 million Californians\u2014a 90% increase from the 2020 cycle. Patterson also championed ballot harvesting and the C.A.R.E.S. system to streamline grassroots efforts, ensuring Republican outreach across the state.<\/p>\n

Before becoming Chairwoman, Patterson co-founded and led California Trailblazers, a program that recruits and trains Republican candidates. Modeled after the Young Guns program, Trailblazers has supported more than 180 candidates with structured goals and benchmarks, contributing to an array of successful Republican campaigns. In recent cycles, Trailblazers trained nearly 2,500 candidates and potential candidates, with 69% of current Republican state legislators emerging from the program.<\/p>\n

With nearly two decades in Republican politics, Patterson has held leadership roles within the California Republican Party, the Republican National Committee, and for prominent leaders like Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and Senator John McCain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Study Group- Campaigns, California Style: Running for Office in the Golden State<\/strong><\/p>\n

This four-week study group explored the practicalities of running campaigns in California. Who are the key players, how do political parties play a role, and how do candidates get from the ballot to the Capitol? Students learned the nuts and bolts of campaigns with specific focus on political strategy, fundraising, communications, data, digital marketing, and grassroots fundraising with the former Chairwoman of the California Republican Party.<\/p>\n

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Spring 2025 Semester Recap<\/h3>\n
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Group Photo of CPF Fellow Jessica Millan Patterson’s Spring 2025 Study Group<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jessica Millan Patterson said this about her experience at USC\u2019s Center for the Political Future: “I love how engaged the students are. I love the opportunities they have to meet incredible people in the political field, whether they are in communications or press or government. There’s a lot of opportunities for students looking to further their careers in politics.”<\/p>\n

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USC students in Jessica’s study group shared this about their experience:<\/p>\n

“This study group made me feel genuinely prepared to run a campaign\u2014or play a key role in someone else\u2019s. Patterson broke down everything from data to door-knocking in a way that was clear, practical, and empowering. I learned how to build a winning strategy, fundraise effectively, and connect with voters across California\u2019s diverse communities. My favorite part was how hands-on and real-world the lessons were\u2014 I left each session feeling more confident in my ability to contribute meaningfully to the political process.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Michelle Johnson, Political Economy<\/span><\/p>\n

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“I learned so much from this study group with Jessica. I feel confident to join a local campaign to make change in my community! My favorite part was Patterson having GOP officials discuss their career and background.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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“Learning under Jessica Millan Patterson was an absolute joy! I loved learning more about how money, digital engagement, and data are all integral parts to running a campaign in 21st century America. I am so energized to work in electoral politics now!”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Jessica shared her thoughts on the importance of politics, her first political experience, her advice for having respectful political discourse, and what she appreciates about CPF in her \u201cQuick Takes: Q&A with CPF Fellow Jessica Millan Patterson<\/a>\u201d video.<\/p>\n