Embattled New Hampshire GOP chairman Jim MacEachern has informed the party’s executive committee that he is immediately resigning from his post.
And his replacement will be popular former Rochester Mayor Paul Callaghan.
“After careful consideration,” MacEachern told the committee in a statement shared with NHJournal, “I have concluded that I can no longer devote the time and attention required to fully carry out the responsibilities of this office.”
MacEachern has only been on the job for about a year, after succeeding chairman Chris Ager last January. His abrupt departure comes amid rumors that former NH-01 Republican candidate Elizabeth Girard has accused the chairman of inappropriate behavior.
In her public statement abandoning her long-shot congressional bid, Girard wrote that she had confronted “obstacles” that were “continuously placed in my path.”
“I turned to the leadership in our party for resolution. Instead, received words young women should never have to hear, facing situations women should never have to encounter,” Girard wrote.
Multiple sources close to both Girard and MacEachern have confirmed to NHJournal that Girard was referring to the chairman.
MacEachern didn’t address the issue in his resignation letter, and sources inside the GOP say the resignation is not a direct result of Girard’s veiled and thus far unsubstantiated complaints. But MacEachern’s departure isn’t entirely coincidental either.
The top priority in a tough midterm climate needs to be helping Republicans win, sources say, and GOP leaders had decided MacEachern would be a distraction.
“Gov. Ayotte isn’t putting up with any nonsense,” one source told NHJournal.
Paul Callaghan
Soon after MacEachern informed the executive committee of his decision, Vice Chair Scott Maltzie told them he was declining to take over the chairman’s role and nominated Callaghan instead.
“After careful consideration, I have made the decision not to accept the position as Chairman and will instead nominate Paul Callaghan of Rochester to be the next Chairman of the committee. I will continue in my role as Vice Chairman.”
Callaghan served two terms as mayor of the politically-purple city from 2022 to 2026. A lifelong resident of the city, he had a career as a Rochester Police Officer.
National Committeeman Bill O’Brien has already said he will be seconding Callaghan’s nomination at Monday night’s emergency Executive Committee meeting so the former mayor can quickly step into the job.
“I agree with Scott and Governor Ayotte that the Party needs a strong Chairman with a track record of building successful campaigns and winning grassroots elections at the local level. Paul Callaghan is just that,” O’Brien told the committee in a letter.
The news that changes were coming was foreshadowed this weekend when word went out that the NHGOP Executive Committee had called an emergency meeting. Speculation focused on the possibility of MacEachern’s departure, but the assumption among many sources was that Maltzie would be the new chair. Having a successful, experienced pol take over the party apparatus is likely to be seen as a step forward for the party.
Early response to Monday’s news has been generally positive.
“Paul Callaghan knows what it takes to win,” said Senate President Sharon Carson. “He’s helped candidates on the ground, he’s won tough elections himself, and he brings the experience to move our party forward. The Senate Republican majority looks forward to working with him to continue delivering results for New Hampshire.”
And a longtime GOP operative added, “Every Republican knew how weak Jimmy Mac was before he was elected chair. Why it happened and lasted so long is disturbing, but this is a great development for the party.”
Fellow Mayor Jay Ruais has thrown his support behind Callahan, as have Deputy House Majority Leader Joe Sweeney and Executive Councilors Joe Kenney and John Stephen.
Also noteworthy for party unity is the backing from Trump 2024 NH Co-Chair and Windham Selectman Bruce Breton.
“He’s stood with President Trump, he knows our values, our communities, and what makes this state different,” Breton said of Callaghan. “No one reflects the principles of the New Hampshire Republicans better than Paul.”
