Washington and Lee students announce 2024 “Mock Con” Republican Nominee winner

LEXINGTON, Va. (WFXR) — The convention is over, and the prediction is in! Former President Donald J. Trump is this 2024’s Washington and Lee Mock Convention winner.

The small city of Lexington became the stomping grounds of over a dozen big-name Republicans this weekend. People like Candace Owens, Mike Pompeo and Donald Trump Junior came into town for the 28th mock convention hosted at Washington and Lee. Every four years students predict the presidential nomination for the party out of power. This year that’s a Republican.

In a video sent to the students, former president Donald Trump could be heard praising the university and the Mock Convention saying, “By the time it’s finished I hope I get your endorsement.”

The convention is 100 percent student-led. This year, the Washington and Lee University students were able to raise over a million dollars to bring the convention to life. They tell WFXR that the experience was worth the hard work — down to the parade floats that were awarded this morning.

“Yeah, I was actually on the Vermont float. We made a mountain that was elevated and the guys in the front pour syrup on top of it, so it was just a really funny wholesome event,” said Ben Roberts, a business sophomore at Washington and Lee.

Big names like Donald Trump Jr., Georgia governor Brian Kemp and more all came together to share their views on the state of the nation, international controversies like the war in Gaza, as well as the need for free speech.

Gov. Youngkin announces $14.5 million Mack facility expansion coming to Roanoke Valley

“I thought it was interesting. I really liked what Kemp had to say, I thought he was more bipartisan than the other speakers, it was just interesting,” Roberts said.

“I thought that [Governor] Youngkin was a great public speaker. I wouldn’t say that I necessarily agree with everything he said but I do think his public speaking was great and it’s important to hear different perspectives,” said Sophie Broll, a double Spanish and economics sophomore at Washington and Lee.

Regardless of which political party they’re predicting, students of Washington and Lee tell said mock con is a cherished tradition that has lasted over generations.

“My grandfather was here when the vice president died on stage, my dad was here when Bill Clinton played the saxophone. So, two pretty legendary mock cons to hear about growing up, so it’s pretty cool to be able to experience it myself,” Broll said.

In the past 115 years, the student population has had a 74 percent accuracy rate in predicting the nominee for the party currently out of power. They’ll have to wait until the Republican National Convention in July to see if they’re right.

The student organizers had two surprises at this year’s “Mock Con.” One was a surprise performance by Billy Ray Cyrus. Also, for the first time in mock con history — they also predicted who they believe will be the nominee’s vice president. They went with New York congresswoman Elise Stefanik for Donald Trump’s.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.