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NCGOP Removes Harnett as Chairman

wral.com

Former U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes is back as chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party after GOP activists removed Hasan Harnett from the post for misconduct.  A majority of voting members of the party's Executive Committee Saturday in Raleigh elected Hayes over two other candidates to serve out Harnett's term through the middle of next year.  Hayes served as chairman from mid-2011 to mid-2013, a period of great success for the party as it expanded its advantages in the legislature and Pat McCrory became the first GOP governor in 20 years. Hayes served in Congress for 10 years through 2008 and previously in the legislature. He was also the party's 1996 nominee for governor.  Hayes told Republicans it broke his heart for the party to be in the situation it was in with Harnett but vowed to work to make the GOP successful in the November elections.

The North Carolina Republican Party removed Harnett, its first black chairman from office after its activists agreed that he violated party rules based on allegations he exceeded his authority and tried to sink the website for the party's upcoming state convention.

Enough members of the party's Executive Committee meeting privately Saturday voted to fire Hasan Harnett so that it exceeded the required two-thirds threshold. The vote to remove was confirmed by Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse.

The party's smaller board of directors censured Harnett in March, limiting his powers and denying access to party email.

Harnett was absent from Saturday's meeting — out of the country on business — but he had defenders making his case. Harnett has blamed the GOP establishment for seeking to remove him. State convention participants elected him last June.

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