Kollam: A man from Kollam was part of the campaign team behind the success of Donald Trump in the 2024 US presidential election. 

Stanley Jose, who played a key role in Trump's campaign, has roots in Kollam. Born into an ordinary family in Kollam, Stanley studied at Punalur High School, where he began his political journey as a leader of the Kerala Students Union (KSU). 

Stanley, a member of the Republican National Advisory Committee, was tasked with mobilizing votes among minority groups in Pennsylvania, including Asian, and Hispanic communities. According to Stanley, Trump's ability to connect with voters and build on past lessons helped make up for the losses in the previous election.

Growing up in Punalur, Ranni, and Thiruvalla in Kerala, Stanley’s exposure to political life was shaped by his father, V.C. George, and his association with figures like former state Congress leader TM Varghese. Stanley later moved to the United States after marrying Malayali native Shirley George.
His political career took a significant turn when he started working at a restaurant, where he met Ed Rollins, a senior U.S. diplomat and the chairman of Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign. This connection led Stanley to become involved in various political campaigns, eventually bringing him into Trump's team.

Stanley described the campaign process in the U.S. as a highly disciplined operation and its very different from Kerala. " It’s all done through group meetings, TV ads, and press media. You need prior permission to enter houses. Loudspeakers are not allowed. There are strict regulations regarding posters and banners," he said. "If anything goes wrong, there’s a fine."

Reflecting on the 2020 election, Stanley noted, "It was a tough competition. Biden won, but we didn’t do too badly. The experience was overwhelming, and that's why I was included in the team again this time."