Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Paduchik has announced he will not seek re-election as leader of the state’s GOP in January. The news comes less than a day after Republicans swept every statewide office in Ohio.
Paduchik took over as chair of the Ohio Republican Party in February of 2021.
Before that he served as Ohio Director for Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential run. He would then join Trump’s campaign again during his 2020 bid for re-election. He has also run campaigns in Ohio for George W. Bush and Rob Portman.
Paduchik made the announcement he would not seek re-election in a note to the Ohio Republican State Central Committee, in which he thanked them for a successful year.
On election night, Republicans won every statewide race from the governor’s office and the open U.S. Senate seat to the Ohio Supreme Court contests.
Paduchik said it’s time for new leadership to take over at the Ohio Republican Party.
Over the last year there has been an internal struggle in the party. Paduchik survived an attempt by some Ohio Republican Party's Central Committee members to force him out and replace him with Vice Chair Bryan Williams in September.
Those members said they were frustrated with the party’s endorsement of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine in the May primary. Others said they don’t like the way the partyhas handled its finances, which lead to five Republicans suing the party over missing money.
