The College Republicans at UC Merced was founded in 2008 by a handful of conservative students and was the first political group to form on campus. The group has actively campaigned for local and national Republican candidates and held numerous events on campus. Such events include the Come out of the Closet: It's okay to be Republican day, the celebration of Freedom week with a reenactment of the fall of the Berlin wall, and on campus rallies for Republican candidates. The College Republicans also organized the first Tax Day Tea Party in Merced. The club has launched a speaker's series, bringing well-known conservatives to speak to students on campus. The College Republicans also publish a monthly newspaper, The Right Side, which spreads conservative ideals and informs students about current events.