Lynne Ryan announces campaign for PA GOP Vice Chair

New Castle, Pennsylvania — As a new change in top leadership looms within the state’s Republican Party, now a woman has announced her candidacy – for the second-in-command seat: the PAGOP Vice Chair. 

Lynne Ryan, Chairwoman of the Lawrence County Republican Committee, has officially announced her candidacy for the role, in a press release issued to Harrisburg100 late Monday, Jan. 6.

“The GOP had many monumental victories in 2024. Although we have much to celebrate, we cannot rest on our laurels. Our party captured many new Republican voters, but we must build on that momentum and turn our swing state into a deep red Republican stronghold,” said Ms. Ryan.

As head of the Lawrence County GOP, Ryan and her team organized the largest Senate and Gubernatorial debate before the 2022 Primary, and swept every race in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 for Republicans. 

“We turned our county deep red and for the first time, the City of New Castle voted for our Republican Presidential candidate in 2024,” she exclaimed. 

Ryan is also the Northwest Caucus* Chair, which consists of 14 counties: Lawrence, Mercer, Crawford, Erie, Warren, Venango, Clarion, McKean, Potter, Elk, Clearfield, Jefferson, Cameron and Forest counties. She has been a State Committee Member since 2012, Delegate to the Republican National Convention (RNC) in 2016, 2020, and 2024, a member of the RNC Rules Committee in 2024, and Elector for President Donald J. Trump in 2024.

In a letter issued to the 300+ state committee members, Ryan also signaled her support for William “Bill” Bachenberg, who broke the news first to Harrisburg100 of his official candidacy for the PAGOP chairman race, on New Year’s Eve. 

“Bill (Bachenberg) has been a proven supporter of many grassroots initiatives to grow the party and our ability to win significant races around the state. There is no bigger President Trump supporter in PA. He has supported projects for election integrity, voter registration and get-out-vote through creative initiatives,” Ryan wrote.

Professionally, Ryan was a flight attendant for 36 years and since 1989 worked in her husband’s successful family business.

Ryan expressed thanks for the support and encouragement she has already received from many county chairs and state committee members across Pa. that recommended she run for the Vice Chair position.

At this time, Bernadette “Bernie” Comfort is the Vice Chairwoman of the PAGOP, having been elected on Feb. 4, 2017, alongside outgoing PAGOP Chair Lawrence Tabas.

(The PAGOP has six caucuses, divided by regions as follows:  Northwest, Southwest, Central, North Central, Northeast and Southeast.)