NC Republicans Get a New Chairman…For Now
New NCGOP Chairman Robin Hayes
It’s official. North Carolina Republicans now have a new person carrying the conservative banner for them on a statewide basis. Former five-term NC 8th District Congressional Representative and 1996 NC Gubernatorial Candidate Robin Hayes was selected on the first ballot by the North Carolina Republican Executive Committee. Hayes will now finish out the term of outgoing NC GOP Chairman Tom Fetzer. Fetzer, citing a desire to spend more time with his family, was widely lauded as one of the primary factors in the GOP takeover of the General Assembly this last November.
Hayes was selected on 241 of the ballots cast during yesterday’s election to select who would fill out the remainder of Fetzer’s term. Hayes margin of victory over the other nominees was substantial with Vice-Chairman Tim Johnson receiving 47 votes, Bob Pruett of Beaufort receiving 29 votes, and perennial challenger Marcus Kindley receiving 21 votes. Hayes had been selected as the favorite to win by the Raleigh News and Observer and his margin of victory today left little doubt as to who a majority of those on the executive committee in the NC Republican Party feel comfortable with leading their party.
Johnson had been receiving support from Tim D’Annunzio and several tea party organizations leading up to the race, however that support did not materialize enough during the election with few tea party organizers participating as executive committee members. Kindley and Pruett both cited their experience within the party, yet it seemed that Hayes personality and vision for the party carried the minds of those in the room.
Hayes will now step in for the remaining five months of Fetzer’s term as the party begins to gear up for its annual convention in Wilmington this June. It will be there that the party makes its selection of the new chairman for the 2011-2013 term. The key issue in that election, according to several executive committee members, will be who is better suited to lead the party into the presidential and gubernatorial elections in 2012 as well as hold the gains made in the General Assembly. No one has as of yet declared, but after the results today it would seem that unless someone new announces their desire for the position, it is Hayes for the taking if he so wishes.
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