From Homeschool Graduate to Political Powerhouse

Janessa Pogue, a 28-year-old homeschool graduate, has become a notable figure in the political landscape, thanks to her dedication and passion for making a difference. Janessa’s journey began in her childhood, growing up in a politically active family. “I remember our family working on a campaign for a homeschool father and friend of ours back when I was about 10 years old,” she recalls. This early exposure to political campaigns set the stage for her future endeavors.

Over the years, Janessa’s involvement in politics has been extensive and varied. She worked on her grandfather’s campaign for county commissioner and was elected as a precinct committee member in her local county in Oregon. During this time, she organized parades, booths, election events, and campaign promotions, and even testified against a serious gun control bill introduced in the Oregon Senate. These activities helped her build a robust political network, connecting with state and U.S. representatives and senators.

Janessa’s move to Idaho did not slow her political momentum. She worked on a campaign to flip a senate seat and was elected as her county’s Republican State Committeewoman in the last primary election. Her desire to make a difference is deeply rooted in her belief that she is here to advance the Kingdom of God. “For me, that does not entail sitting on the sidelines, but rather getting in the fight and serving my community in a variety of ways. One of those is politics. And since I am a people person who loves servant leadership, networking and organizing, and the challenge and high-paced action of politics, it has been a natural fit for me,” Janessa explains.

A pivotal part of Janessa’s political education came from attending the Campaign-In-A-Day (CIAD) training at the Patriot Academy Leadership Congress events, first in Idaho in June 2021 and then again in Texas in August 2022. 

Reflecting on her experience, she says, “My experience with CIAD was wonderful! I think it is an amazing program with a powerful influence to teach young people the intricate system of the election process in a short amount of time; yet do it in a memorable and effective manner!” She emerged from the training with confidence and a skill set that allowed her to take on almost any role in a real campaign.

Janessa’s most recent and notable campaign effort involved working with Idaho Citizens for Good Government (ICGG), a non-partisan, non-profit think tank that includes her mother, Rossella Pogue. The group’s research uncovered alarming information about the sitting Senate Pro Temp, Chuck Winder. Winder was found to be a significant spender and had used over $30,000 of his campaign funds for questionable travel expenses in an unopposed race.

Determined to make a change, ICGG, led by Rossella Pogue, mobilized a group of homeschool young people to canvas District 20 in Meridian, ID, just before the primary election in May. Their goal was to persuade constituents to vote against Chuck Winder and support Josh Keysor, a military veteran and promising candidate. The campaign was a success, and Keysor was elected, thanks in part to the efforts of Janessa and her team.

Janessa played a crucial role in organizing, communicating, and handling logistics for the campaign. She utilized her extensive network in the homeschool community to recruit volunteers and coordinated with Patriot Academy’s Constitution Coach program to bring in new activists. She also worked closely with Josh Keysor’s campaign manager to implement a canvassing app that targeted Republican voters, ensuring efficient and effective canvassing.

The campaign faced several challenges, such as distributing flyers, targeting the right voters, and dealing with unfriendly respondents. However, Janessa and her team overcame these obstacles through strategic planning and teamwork. Their efforts covered over 1,700 homes, resulting in an estimated 300 votes for Keysor, who won by 281 votes. The campaign manager credited Janessa’s team with making a significant difference in the election outcome.

Janessa’s experience with CIAD proved invaluable during this campaign. “For me, understanding and having the training that CIAD provided made it seem easy to take on a canvassing role to engage voters in conversations on their top 3 issues and turn that conversation into the channels we wanted them to go was a huge advantage!” she says. The success of the campaign was not only a testament to the effectiveness of door-to-door canvassing but also a powerful example of young people making a real difference.

Janessa’s journey is an inspiring story of dedication, leadership, and the impact of grassroots organizing. Her efforts have shown that with passion, training, and a supportive network, it is possible to create meaningful change in the political landscape. As she continues to serve her community, Janessa remains a shining example of what it means to be an engaged and active patriot.