Patti Lyman is a born and raised native Virginian overwhelmingly elected RNC National Committeewoman in 2020 by Virginia Republicans in her first ever run for office.
Patti and her husband joined the pro-life movement in 1991, holding protest signs outside abortion clinics and praying to not get arrested. She soon left a successful business career to return to the abortion clinics as a constitutional attorney for the American Center for Law & Justice defending peaceful pro life protesters. She successfully litigated 1st Amendment, parental rights and pro-life cases in state and federal courts and assisted victims of China’s forced abortion policy. She also served on the board of the first national network of black pro-life groups fighting abortion’s devastating and disproportionate impact on the black community.
After 9/11, Patti moved into immigration law specializing in asylum for persecuted Christians from Islamic countries. Convinced that illegal immigration will result in permanently outvoting Republican values and basic fundamental rights, Patti speaks whenever possible about why stopping illegal immigration must be a top priority. Focused on conservative grassroots activism for many years outside the party structure, she remained dedicated to electing Republicans. During the 2000 Florida recount, as a constitutional attorney she did multiple media interviews explaining the legal events that would determine the presidency. Patti re-entered the official party structure in 2016, later served as a surrogate speaker in Virginia’s 2017/2018 gubernatorial and US Senate races, and played a key role in 2018 electing a conservative, grassroots Chairman for Virginia’s largest Republican Committee. She is an active member of the Bull Run Republican Women’s Club and seeks invitations to speak at every Republican auxiliary and unit in the Commonwealth.
On the RNC, Patti is one of 8 elected Resolution Committee members who determine which resolutions/policy statements are voted on by all 168 RNC members. As an attorney she drafts and consistently argues for resolutions that address the critical issues of the day while advancing our Republican values and upholding our platform. Patti holds a B.S. in Commerce from the University of Virginia, an MBA in Finance from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, and earned her Juris Doctor in 1997 from Regent University School of Law. She is admitted to the bars of the Virginia Supreme Court, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. Patti and her husband of nearly 33 years, Frank, live in Fairfax with their 6 cats and are blessed to enjoy their many godchildren, official and otherwise.