GREENSBORO, NC — A vendor at the North Carolina Republican Party Convention in Greensboro has turned his love of politics, history and art into a business.
What you need to know
North Carolina’s GOP convention in Greensboro is the party’s largest ever in the state, organizers say
More than 70 vendors and 1,800 people attend the event
The convention, which featured top GOP presidential candidates, ends Sunday
Brandon Saxton came from Ohio to sell this weekend at the GOP event, which organizers say is the party’s largest convention in the state, with more than 1,800 attendees and more than 70 vendors.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke on Friday, and former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence spoke at the gathering on Saturday.
It’s not Saxton’s first time at an NC GOP meeting, though — he came in 2021.
“I think it was the first time Trump made a public appearance since he left office,” Saxton said. “We heard that President Trump, DeSantis and Mike Pence were coming, and we wanted to sell items again.”
Saxton, his wife and parents came down from Marion, Ohio.
“So I like to be interested in history and politics and mix that with art,” Saxton said.
The things he sells are items that he has collected or that he or his wife, both graphic designers, have made.
“Like buttons for all the candidates, whether it’s President Trump, Governor DeSantis, Vice President Pence, even like, you know, Ambassador Nikki Haley. We just obviously believe in freedom and we’re entrepreneurs, so we like to have variety and something for everyone,” Saxton said.
Saxton began collecting political articles at a young age, learning from his father.
“These are just duplicate items that I already have in my collection,” Saxton said. “So yes, I wanted to share them with other people so they can enjoy.”
But his love of politics and history is why he started the business, wanting to share that passion with others.
“You think it’s just a great symbolic way to support the candidate of your choice. But it’s also a piece of history, really, if you think about it. As you can see here, there’s Reagan, Eisenhower, Nixon, you know, the current Trump, DeSantis, Pence. Eventually, they will also be historical items that will be worth money,” Saxton said.
The convention continues until Sunday afternoon.
