The New York State Republican Party expects to have a new leader in the near future.
The current chairman of the state GOP expects to step down from the post soon. Now-U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy says the candidates looking to succeed him are making their cases across the state.
"I'm taking a pretty laissez-faire approach to the chair fight because it's a decision of the structure of the party, the state committee members and the county chairs and I respect their decision," Langworthy said.
Niagara County Chairman Rich Andres sais his committee and the Erie County GOP Committee will host joint virtual interviews Monday evening.
"People have been reaching out for the better part of two months talking about this opening and they'd like to possibly throw their hat in the ring," Andres said. "They've called me personally so I've asked a lot of these questions but our state committee has not."
Andres said there are seven announced candidates the committees have offered to meet with:
- Former Attorney General candidate Michael Henry
- Fulton County Chair Susan McNeil
- State Assemblyman Chris Tague
- Former congressional candidate Colin Schmitt
- Rockland County Chair Lawrence Garvey
- Putnam County Chair Anthony Scannapieco
- John Sarcone, who declined the nomination to run in an attorney general primary against Henry last year.
"Having an open contest allows us as chairs and as state committeemen to really discuss and have an open dialogue about what we want," Andres said.
"I'm sure it will be a spirited competition," Rep. Langworthy said. "I don't know that there's a clubhouse favorite and there's a lot of people that I respect very much that are trying to succeed me in this position so I just want what's in the best interest of the New York State Republican Party going forward."
Andres says the party is tentatively scheduled to meet to choose a new chair on Feb. 17, the same day he said Langworthy has dated his resignation letter.
The Niagara County chair was complimentary of Langworthy, who he said better connected the state structure to the county committees, even in some of the more rural parts of the state.
"Efficiencies, I like to see that," Andres said. "I like to see that they have command of the statewide kind of Republican network of folks that are out there. Some of these people, I think, are a little green I think and they don't have that network that they can draw on so that's a concern of mine."
Andres said fundraising ability is always an important consideration in selecting a state chair as well.