NC GOP elects new chairman

Delegates at the North Carolina Republican Party's convention on Saturday chose Michael Whatley to replace Robin Hayes as chairman.

Posted 2:36 a.m. Jun 9, 2019 — Updated 4:17 a.m. Jun 9, 2019

Deborah Strange

, WRAL digital journalist

CONCORD, N.C. — The North Carolina Republican Party elected a new chairman on Saturday.

Delegates at the party’s convention chose Michael Whatley to replace Robin Hayes, who was arrested in April in a federal bribery case.

Whatley, an energy consultant in Gaston County, will serve a two-year term as chairman.

"As we enter the most important election cycle in our lifetime, we'll hit the ground running building the party infrastructure, fundraising and training volunteers in order to re-elect President Trump and deliver for all of our candidates up and down the ballot," Whatley said in a statement.

Miriam Chu, a retired technical services manager and contractor, was elected as the state party’s vice chairwoman.

Hayes, a former congressman and GOP candidate for governor, is accused of trying to bribe state Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey.

Greg Lindberg, North Carolina's largest political donor, and two of his business associates were also charged in the scheme.

Hayes was also charged with three counts of lying to the FBI.

In April, he announced he wouldn't seek another term as chairman, citing his health.

Weeks later, Dallas Woodhouse announced he would leave his role as executive director of the party.

The shakeups come just more than a year before the state party will host the 2020 Republican National Convention in Charlotte.

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