WHO WE ARE
Why the name Red Truck Strategies?
In order to turn the tide against Big Government, the conservative movement has to start working smarter, not harder.
That means producing top-notch, original research on topics that voters care about, but in a readable, digestible format that allows key audiences to understand and repeat the key takeaways.
It also means using consistent, quality messaging, getting an edge by finding data & government records that no one else has, using earned media to ensure your message gets out, and being prepared to dismantle pushback.
To put it another way:
THE DAYS OF 30-PAGE WHITE PAPERS ARE GONE.
And that’s where Red Truck Strategies steps in.
The Red Truck team has worked in policy and politics in states across the map for nearly two decades–inside governor’s offices, in partnership with state agencies, and deep in the weeds of state legislatures–and gotten results.
From deep blue states like Vermont to purple states like Pennsylvania to deep red, American-loving states like Arkansas, we’ve got a track record of getting results without compromising our principles, no matter the political climate.
BECAUSE OUR FORMULA WORKS.
OUR EDGE:
EXPERIENCED.
EFFICIENT.
EXCELLENCE.
OUR MISSION:
Advancing the conservative cause by delivering industry-leading facts and data in a compelling, approachable way.
OUR PARTNERS:
Red Truck Strategies partners with people and organizations across the country who share our values of hard work, integrity, and the American dream.
- Conservative think tanks
- Conservative grassroots organizations
- Conservative coalitions
- Small businesses
Nic Horton
Founder & CEO
NIC HORTON is the founder & CEO of Red Truck Strategies. A lifelong Arkansan, Nic has done political & policy work in roughly half the country, ranging from Maine to Montana. His original research and analysis has been highlighted in the Wall Street Journal, Fox News, Forbes, National Review Online, the Washington Examiner, and Townhall, among other national outlets. Nic has also appeared on numerous talk radio shows across the map.
Nic got his start in the political world in Arkansas volunteering for local campaigns and then eventually founded & built one of the leading conservative news sites in the south, The Arkansas Patriot. There, much of Nic’s work focused on holding local governments and elected officials accountable on matters of wasteful spending, lack of transparency, and tax hikes. Partnering with local concerned citizens, Nic played an instrumental role in defeating numerous local tax hikes at the ballot.
In 2012, Nic became the editor of the largest policy news site in Arkansas, The Arkansas Project, where he covered issues ranging from criminal justice policy and tax reform to Medicaid expansion and occupational licensing.
Nic’s early career as a journalist eventually led him to the Foundation for Government Accountability where he started as a research fellow focused on ObamaCare and Medicaid. He was the only member of the research team at that time.
By 2017, as the organization began to grow, Nic was promoted to Research Director. He would spend roughly five years in this new and exciting role, building the department from the ground up by recruiting, training, and developing top-notch talent. Nic’s team members were regularly recruited by other departments for promotions in the organization which was openly recognized as a key asset for the company and an indication of his high ability to develop talent.
During Nic’s time at FGA, he also served as an on-the-ground lobbyist in Arkansas and was directly responsible for nearly 100 policy wins in the state. Previously, FGA had never obtained any policy wins in Arkansas. These wins range from Medicaid work requirements–which Arkansas is the first and only state in the country to ever implement–to reforming the state’s archaic independent contractor rules to make it easier for Arkansans to find flexible work. Nic also testified before committees in nearly a dozen states, including in Arkansas and bigger states like Pennsylvania.
In short, Nic has done just about every type of work there is to be done in the political and policy worlds – with excellence and with big results.
Nic is passionate about reducing the size of government across the United States because he knows that is the key to human flourishing. He believes paychecks, not welfare checks, are the only real pathway to prosperity. He believes the government that governs least governs best and he is committed to using his vast experience and expertise to help conservative nonprofits & candidates win.
Nic happily resides in Conway, Arkansas with his wife Leah and two kids. When he is not writing or chasing his kids, Nic enjoys gardening, any good home improvement project, and telling stories. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and a Master of Business Administration, both from Harding University.
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JOIN THE MOVEMENT
Keep up with everything going on with Red Truck Strategies.
WHY the name RED TRUCK?
In the cab of a red truck with my dad, that’s where I started to become the man I am today. It’s where I learned the value of hard work, the importance of honesty, and the universal truth that people are always more important than money.
As a young homeschool kid in rural Arkansas, many days, I’d hop in dad’s old red Ford truck and go with him to work. He was a master carpenter; I was just a young kid anxious to spend time with my dad. Without fail, Paul Harvey would narrate our drive into town.
After doing my schoolwork in the truck, I'd spend most of the afternoon following dad around the job site, carrying lumber, picking up nails, and trying to soak in as much as I could.
I WAS LEARNING THE IMPORTANCE OF a HARD DAY'S WORK.
But most importantly, I was watching my dad interact with people from all walks of life–from wealthy homeowners to brick layers–and treat them all the same. No matter the person, their color, their income, or their perceived societal value, he treated everyone with the same respect and decency. He made everyone feel important and loved. And he was always honest, no matter the cost.
Later down the road, when I was in high school, dad had another red truck–a 5-speed, 90’s model Chevrolet S-10. The clear coat and most of the paint was gone off the hood, giving it a fuzzy look. So of course, dad called this truck “Fuzzy.”
In this truck, I learned how to drive a stick shift, but I also learned a lot about friendship and the importance of being physically present with those you love on a few road trips with dad.
When dad went to be with the Lord in September 2021, he was driving another red truck, a Nissan. I never spent much time in this one; dad bought it after I was grown & had a family of my own. But every time I see it–or one like it, out on the road – I can’t help but think of dad and all the good times we had…
When dad went to be with the Lord in September 2021, he was driving another red truck, a Nissan. I never spent much time in this one; dad bought it after I was grown & had a family of my own. But every time I see it–or one like it, out on the road – I can’t help but think of dad and all the good times we had…
Driving to a construction site; driving half an hour out of town to go pray with someone he had met through work; driving to help a family from church move; driving hours away to watch a high school basketball game because one of my friends was playing in the state playoffs and he knew how important it was for me to be there; driving to cut firewood (our favorite); and countless more memories.
At Red Truck Strategies, we are committed to the same values that my dad, Tony Horton, lived out every day of his life – honesty, integrity, hard work, respect, putting people before money, and excellence in all that we do (Colossians 3:23).
Our company is named not only in his honor, but also as a constant reminder of the values he taught me in his red truck.
