by Roger Riffenburgh
California’s new Republican National Committeewoman is Connie Conway, who has represented the Central Valley in the state Assembly and in Congress and has served as the Assembly Republican Leader. Conway was appointed by Republican State Chair Corrin Rankin and confirmed by the delegates at the recent Republican state convention in Orange County.
When asked how she felt about being chosen to be the national committeewoman, Conway said, “I’m so honored. I’ve had many opportunities in my life, and this is going to be one of the highlights. It’s another opportunity to give back.”
Earlier this year the Trump Administration appointed Connie Conway as the State Executive Director for the US Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency in California, a position she also held during President Trump’s first term. In that role she oversees commodity, conservation, credit, and disaster assistance programs for agricultural producers in California. She had previously served as chairman of the World Ag Expo, the largest annual outdoor agricultural exposition in the country.
Connie Conway was elected to the Assembly in 2008. After being reelected in 2010, she was chosen to be the Assembly Republican Leader. She served until being termed out in 2014. Later, when Congressman Devin Nunes resigned in 2022, Conway won that seat in the special election.
As the Republican national committeewoman, Connie Conway will be one of three people that represent California Republicans on the Republican National Committee (in addition to state party Chair Corrin Rankin and National Committeeman Shawn Steel). At the national level, the committeewoman attends RNC meetings and votes on leadership and policy. At the state level, the committeewoman serves on the state party board of directors, helping to keep the state party connected with the national party. The position became vacant when the incumbent, San Francisco Republican Harmeet Dhillon, became the Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. Conway’s term lasts until 2028, just before the next national convention.
Connie Conway was born in Bakersfield and graduated from San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno. She attended the College of the Sequoias, a community college in Visalia, and California State University, Fresno. She worked as a hospital wellness coordinator and then a marketing director. In the late 90’s she worked as a district manager at CorVel Corporation, a healthcare management services company. She was elected to the Tulare County Board of Supervisors and served until 2008. While a supervisor, she served as president of the California State Association of Counties.
Connie says, “I’m very hands-on. I like to get in the middle of things and figure out how to help. Problem solving is real important to me.” She keeps very busy, but when she has time to relax, she goes to the mountains and enjoys the solitude. She has two adult sons and two grandkids and lives with her husband and two dogs in Tulare.