New Hampshire GOP appoints new chairman

(The Center Square) — New Hampshire Republicans have tapped former Rochester Mayor Paul Callaghan to lead the party following the abrupt resignation of its former chairman.

The GOP's Executive Committee announced Tuesday that it approved Callaghan to serve as chairman of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee.  He replaces Jim MacEachern, who stepped down Monday after less than years as the party's chairman. 

"I’m incredibly honored to take on this role," Callaghan said in a statement. "The strength of our party comes from the grassroots up, and I’m excited to work with our committees and elected officials across New Hampshire to win in November."

Callaghan, a veteran law enforcement officer, was elected Rochester mayor in 2021 after flipping a seat held by Democrats for decades. Republican party officials credit Callaghan with reducing crime, reviving the city’s downtown and creating jobs during his tenure as mayor. He is also currently a lieutenant in the Strafford County Sheriff’s Department.

Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte was among those who voiced her support for Callaghan in a statement provided by the party that praised his campaigning prowess. 

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"Paul has won tough races the New Hampshire way — by knocking doors and working hard. He knows how to build a strong grassroots campaign, and he has never backed down from the tough fights," Ayotte. "Paul understands what it takes to win and he’s exactly what our party needs as we head into November."

MacEachern submitted his letter of resignation Monday ahead of a Jan. 24 "emergency" meeting of the party's Executive Committee to discuss replacing him over a confrontation with a GOP congressional candidate, who later dropped out of a primary race in the First Congressional District race. GOP officials didn't mention the controversy that led to his resignation. 

"After careful consideration, I have concluded that I can no longer devote the time and attention required to fully carry out the responsibilities of this office," MacEachern wrote in his resignation letter to party officials. "It has been an honor to serve as chairman of our great party." 

Manchester Republican Elizabeth Girard, who served as a chair of Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign in New Hampshire, suspended her campaign for the congressional seat two weeks ago. She cited "obstacles" in her efforts to win support from party activists, but didn't publicly blame MacEachern for forcing her out of the congressional race.

"I turned to the leadership in our party for resolution," Girard, a former head of the state chapter of the National Federation of Republican Women, said in a statement. "Instead, I received words young women should never have to hear, facing situations women should never have to encounter."