Outgoing president of the New Hampshire Federation of Republican Women, Elizabeth Girard, is looking for a new job with the GOP: National Republican Committeewoman.
Current committeewoman Juliana Bergeron of Keene recently announced that, after 11 years, she won’t be seeking another term. Almost immediately, current state GOP Finance chair Mary Jane Beauregard of Wilton sent a letter to Republican committee members announcing she wants to fill the vacancy.
And, as NHJournal reported at the time, speculation began swirling through New Hampshire GOP circles that Girard also wanted the job.
At the monthly Center-Right meeting hosted by former GOP House Speaker Bill O’Brien on Wednesday, Girard made it official, telling the attendees she is getting into the race.
“My top priority as National Committeewoman will be to preserve our First In The Nation primary,” Girard said in a statement. “The RNC needs young, energetic thought leaders who bring a new perspective to the political discourse, and New Hampshire needs a National Committeewoman who will fiercely speak up for the Granite State.”
New Hampshire GOP Chairman Chris Ager has announced his support for Beauregard in the committeewoman race.
“Mary Jane Beauregard will make a fantastic NH National Committeewoman. She is the most qualified person I know to fill the empty position. She has been Finance Chair during our record fundraising 2023 year. I totally support her,” Ager said via Twitter.
However, Girard has the backing of former RNC Committeeman Michael Dennehy.
“I wholeheartedly support Elizabeth for the RNC,” Dennehy said in a statement. “She is an accomplished conservative; she has worked in the trenches for years to elect Republicans, and she has the perfect profile to serve on the Republican National Committee. Most importantly, having successfully run the N.H. Federation of Republican Women. She has proven to be a master at networking, which is critically important to preserve New Hampshire’s First in the Nation primary.”
The race for committeewoman promises to be lively.
Under Girard’s leadership, the NHFRW hosted a series of member events with the GOP presidential candidates, and the keynote speaker at its Lilac Luncheon fundraiser was former President Donald Trump. Girard’s handling of that event, however, created a firestorm within the GOP when she attacked the Ron DeSantis campaign for what it called an “unprecedented” breach of protocol by scheduling a campaign event the same day as the luncheon.
Other voices in the New Hampshire GOP mocked her claim and accused Girard of electioneering on behalf of Trump. One NHRFW chairwoman resigned in response.
According to the NHFRW, the Trump event was “the most profitable Lilac Luncheon to date.”
The vacancy will be filled when the state Republican committee meets in January. However, Bergeron — who sits on several key RNC committees — has announced she plans to continue serving through the GOP national convention in July.
