Sign In  |  Register  |  About San Rafael  |  Contact Us

San Rafael, CA
September 01, 2020 1:37pm
7-Day Forecast | Traffic
  • Search Hotels in San Rafael

  • CHECK-IN:
  • CHECK-OUT:
  • ROOMS:

North Carolina GOP elects Trump-endorsed executive director as its next chairman

The North Carolina Republican Party's Executive Committee voted Tuesday night to name Executive Director Jason Simmons as its new chairman.

North Carolina Republican activists have chosen the person running the state's party day-today operations to become its next chairman, succeeding Michael Whatley after he was elevated to lead the Republican National Committee earlier this month.

Members of the state GOP's Executive Committee voting Tuesday night in Johnston County elected party Executive Director Jason Simmons as state chairman over Lee County party Chairman Jim Womack by a more than 2-to-1 margin, a party spokesperson said.

Simmons had received an endorsement for the job from former President Donald Trump, who also had made Whatley his handpicked choice to succeed longtime RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel. Whatley resigned from his state chairman's position Tuesday.

NC SUPREME COURT DECLINES CHALLENGE TO CONFEDERATE MONUMENT'S REMOVAL

Simmons has strong political ties to Trump, having worked as state director on Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign in North Carolina and overseeing Trump campaign operations in some Southeast states in 2020.

"I’m honored to be chosen by my fellow Republicans to lead our party into the most important election in our lifetime," Simmons said in a news release. He noted efforts to help Trump win again North Carolina's electoral votes, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson get elected governor, retain veto-proof majorities at the General Assembly and win appellate court races.

"I’m ready to hit the ground running," Simmons added.

State GOP spokesperson Matt Mercer said Simmons defeated Womack by a vote of 289-130. The victory means Simmons can serve as chair through the next scheduled election for chairman in June 2025.

In his endorsement on social media, Trump wrote that Simmons "has been key to our many Republican Victories in the Tar Heel State. Jason will be fantastic for the MAGA Movement."

Whatley heads a new RNC leadership team that includes Trump daughter-in-law and North Carolina native Lara Trump as the committee co-chair.

While North Carolina went to Trump in both 2016 and 2020, he won the state's 2020 popular vote by just 1.3 percentage points. Democrats have had a strong run with governor, by winning seven of the last eight general elections for the post.

Data & News supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Stock quotes supplied by Barchart
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.
 
 
Copyright © 2010-2020 SanRafael.com & California Media Partners, LLC. All rights reserved.