Trump-endorsed candidate elected chair of NC’s GOP
SELMA, N.C. — North Carolina Republican activists chose 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 from former President Donald Trump, who also had made Whatley his handpicked choice to succeed longtime RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel. Whatley resigned as state chairman Tuesday.
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 release. “I’m ready to hit the ground running.”
State GOP spokesperson Matt Mercer said Simmons defeated Womack by a 289-130 vote. 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 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 daughterin-law and North Carolina native Lara Trump as the committee co-chair.
While North Carolina went to Trump in the past two presedential elections, 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.