We were lucky to catch up with Cole Marting recently and have shared our conversation below.

Cole, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

I started my professional journey in Washington D.C., having the honor of working at the highest levels of political campaigns, driven by a deep belief that quality leadership is essential to improving lives in our communities. My mission was clear: to ensure that principled, conservative leaders who understood the value of hard work and common sense held office. However, following COVID-19 it was clear that my home, San Diego, California, needed my help more than ever. The community I grew up in needed strong, sensible leadership more than ever.

Heading west, and back to California was a deeply personal decision, grounded in my commitment for a better California. I was raised here, and seeing the state in total decline broke my heart. Whether it was homelessness, crime, or unaffordable housing— the issues we faced called me back with a renewed sense of purpose.

Since my return to the Golden State, I’ve worked to see this mission through. In 2023, I published California’s Toughest Challenges and the Common Sense Conservative Ways to Solve Them, which quickly became an Amazon #1 New Release. The book outlines specific, low hanging fruit solutions to our toughest challenges. I’m proud to say that it has been well-received, and I’m even prouder that its message is gaining traction with everyday Californians and political leaders alike.

In addition to my writing, I’ve focused on uniting young conservatives in San Diego. As a board member of the San Diego Young Republicans, I’m proud to have helped grow our membership by 650%, creating a strong community of young leaders dedicated to bringing commonsense ideas and leadership to San Diego. But we are not only a political organization, we embody a movement aimed at renewing our community and the state as a whole, bringing integrity, accountability, and most importantly, common sense solutions that each and every Californian can get behind.

Cole, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was raised in Carlsbad, CA, and after college at UC Santa Barbara, I worked in Washington, D.C. at the White House, Congress, and the Republican National Committee, which deepened my commitment to conservative principles focused on fiscal responsibility and common sense governance.

As a political commentator, I write from a unique California Conservative perspective on issues like crime policy and current political events. My book, California’s Toughest Challenges and the Common Sense Conservative Ways to Solve Them, became an Amazon #1 New Release, offering solutions to the state’s biggest problems. I also contribute opinion pieces to the San Diego Union Tribune as a part of the Community Voices Project.

Now, as Executive Director of the California Young Republicans, I help recruit, train, and elect young conservatives statewide. Locally, I serve on the board of the San Diego Young Republicans, where we’ve grown membership significantly. Returning to California is a personal mission, and I’m focused on solving the state’s challenges with practical, community-centered solutions.

What sets me apart is my belief that California can be turned around. While many people choose to flee the state in frustration, I made the choice to return and fight for a better future. I’m not just talking about what’s wrong—I’m actively working to lay out solutions that put the state back on a path of common sense. I believe that with the right ideas and principled leaders, we can restore fiscal responsibility, tackle crime, and address the homelessness crisis while respecting the unique beauty and diversity of California. Instead of giving up, I’ve committed to fighting for the California dream.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

During the 2020 election cycle, I was working in New Hampshire on the president’s reelection campaign, putting in long hours with little sleep. I knew how important it was to fight for conservative values, and this was my way of serving the greater good. It was October, just a month before the election, and the pressure was building. While driving between events one day, I was on the phone with my then-girlfriend, now wife, when I felt immense pressure in my chest and my heart started skipping beats. I ended up in the ER that night with heart complications, and doctors put me on bed rest for a week.

While I was grateful for the doctors’ help, I was upset about missing such a critical time in the campaign. But I knew I couldn’t sit out for long. After a week, I got back to work, finishing the election cycle. After Election Day, I joined the campaign’s election integrity task force in Philadelphia, where we ensured ballot boxes weren’t being tampered with.

Looking back, the experience showed me that even when my body reached its breaking point, my spirit didn’t quit. I realized that resilience isn’t just about enduring—it’s about pushing through when everything in you wants to stop. That’s the drive that keeps me going today.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I believe my reputation was shaped by my experiences standing firm on conservative principles in tough environments. I attended an overwhelmingly liberal university, University of California Santa Barbara, where in many of my political science classes, I was one of the only conservative Republicans. This experience forced me to not only defend my values but to communicate effectively, which helped me build a strong foundation for the work I do today. I’ve always believed that California can be turned around, and my motto, “California is worth fighting for,” reflects my commitment to that ideal.

In addition to writing opinion pieces for various California media outlets and publishing a book with data-driven solutions to the Golden State’s problems, I practice what I preach. Through my work with the San Diego and California Young Republicans, I help recruit and elect candidates who can put conservative ideas into action. I also collaborate with elected Republican officials across California, ensuring our movement stays grounded in practical solutions. It’s not always easy to be a young conservative, especially when our current political climate expects younger people to lean liberal, but I’ve found that sticking to common-sense solutions and focusing on shared goals has helped me earn respect, even from those who may disagree with me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.colemarting.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cole-marting/
• Twitter: https://x.com/cole_marting
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@cole_marting?si=PpcqfKYF0QcAvnXL
• Other: https://sandiegoyoungrepublicans.org/
  https://www.cayrf.org/

Image Credits

Aaren Cadieux