Tempel knows of at least one other person his age

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Not only did Tempel go to Cleveland last week as an alternate delegate, he also was a blogger for the Hutchinson News. His dad was given a guest pass and made the trip with his son. Father and son met everyone from former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to former TV anchor Katie Couric.

Garden City senior Tanner Tempel was an alternate delegate at the Republican National Convention. Courtesy photo.
Garden City senior Tanner Tempel was an alternate delegate at the Republican National Convention. Courtesy photo.
“We met everyone we wanted to meet except for Donald Trump himself,” Tempel said.

But he did see Ivanka Trump. Tempel was impressed by the entire Trump family.

“His kids just blew my mind,” Tempel said. “They’re so impressive. You can tell the way they were raised.”

“If anyone wins the election for him, it’s definitely going to be his kids.”

Even though Cruz was his candidate during the primaries, Tempel is now an unabashed Trump supporter.

“In the very beginning, I was on the Ted Cruz bandwagon,” Tempel said. “But let me tell you, Donald Trump was very impressive. It’s not the buildings or the empire he built, the best things he built were his kids — that’s the best thing about him.”

Trump’s acceptance speech was well-received by the delegates.

“It was absolutely electrifying, a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Tempel said. “The people were on their seats. He did a really good job. He spoke from the heart.”

Tempel said more millennials need to get involved in the political process. He said other states’ representatives were pleasantly surprised to see a younger delegate at the convention.

“I have a passion for it,” Tempel said. “More than anything, we need young people involved in politics.”


“Donald Trump has definitely appealed to people who have never been involved in politics before,” Tempel said.

Tempel got his foot in the door by being elected a convention telegram number list alternate delegate in April. This summer — thanks to being at that selection meeting — Tempel landed an internship with the Kansas Grain and Feed Association in Topeka. Tempel was also asked to run for the state Legislature.

“This year, I declined,” Tempel said. “I was getting my feet wet a little bit, so I’m not going to run yet.”

Tempel took some political science classes as an elective at Fort Hays State. He said Dr. Chapman Rackaway — who was a professor of political science at the time and is now interim dean of the Graduate School — made an impact.

“Chapman Rackaway has been a great influence on me,” Tempel said. “He has a passion for it, too.”

“One of the things that I absolutely love about western Kansas and our students, is they’re showing from a very early age they are capable of leadership roles while still a student, so they can jump straight into high-level leadership roles,” Rackaway said. “Tanner may be the next one in line there.”

“Fort Hays State, I brag about them so much down here,” Tempel said. “I couldn’t be more proud to be a Tiger.”