Scott Maltzie may be an accidental chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party, but he’s got a message for friends and foes alike:
He’s not going anywhere.
“I have no intention of resigning,” Maltzie said. “The party needs stability right now. We had three chairs in three weeks. With a major election coming up, we need to right the ship.”
Maltzie assumed the role after former Chairman Jim McEachern was forced to resign, replaced by former Rochester Mayor Paul Callaghan. Former chair Chris Ager challenged that move, and the RNC ruled that Maltzie, then vice chair, automatically ascended to the position.
Maltzie brings decades of political and public service experience to the job. Though he grew up in a family of conservative Democrats and even voted for Democrat Gary Hart as a teenager in the 1970s, Maltzie said his political evolution mirrors that of many New Englanders.
“The Democratic Party left me,” he said, echoing a line often attributed to President Ronald Reagan.
Maltzie later worked in the Governor’s Energy Office under Gov. John H. Sununu and served during multiple administrations, including those of Govs. Walter Peterson, Judd Gregg, Steve Merrill, and Jeanne Shaheen. He also spent years as a teacher and college professor, experiences he says shaped his leadership style.
“Leadership is about service,” Maltzie said. “People will follow a plan once they have faith in the leader.”
As chairman, Maltzie said his top priority is rebuilding the New Hampshire GOP into a professional, well-funded organization capable of competing with Democrats, who currently dominate federal races in the state.
“For too long, people have said Republicans don’t really have a party structure like the Democrats do,” Maltzie said. “I agree with that criticism, and I want to fix it.”
He said his goal is to create a party that donors and volunteers believe in, one capable of hiring staff, supporting candidates, and sustaining long-term success.
“I want to make us the best damn party in the country,” Maltzie said. “That means professionalism, accountability, and building something that lasts.”
Maltzie said he plans to focus heavily on fundraising, acknowledging that Democrats routinely outraise Republicans in New Hampshire by wide margins.
“I’m not asking people for money just to get through the next election,” he said. “I’m asking them to invest in a vision.”
Maltzie said reversing Republicans’ long drought in federal races will require better candidate recruitment and campaign infrastructure. He described successful candidates as needing to be “viable, scalable, and investable.”
“You can have great ideas, but if you can’t build a campaign, raise money, and connect with voters, you’re not going to win,” he said.
While acknowledging the challenge, Maltzie said he believes Republicans have credible contenders and a real opportunity to flip seats in 2026.
“I think we have a shot at at least two of the three federal seats,” he said. “And possibly all three.”
Asked about President Donald Trump, Maltzie struck a careful but supportive tone, saying he generally backs the president’s policies while acknowledging Trump’s polarizing style.
“I don’t agree with everything he says,” Maltzie said. “But I support his policies, and I think he’s done important work, especially on inflation and the border.”
Maltzie said his role is not to represent any single faction within the party, but to unify conservatives, moderates, and libertarians alike.
“I’m not chairman for the far right or the moderates,” he said. “I’m chairman for everybody.”
Maltzie also pledged to work across party lines to defend New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation presidential primary, calling it one of his “top jobs” as chairman.
He praised Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley for pushing the issue with the Democratic National Committee, despite broader partisan disagreements.
“We probably won’t agree on much,” Maltzie said. “But on this, I think we’re kindred spirits.”
With less than a year until the 2026 elections, Maltzie said the work ahead is daunting but necessary.
“This is my way of serving my state,” he said. “If we build the infrastructure now, we won’t just win elections this year — we’ll be positioned for success for years to come.”
For Maltzie, the surprise elevation to chairman has quickly become a mission.
“I woke up the next morning and said, ‘Okay, here we go,’” he said. “And that’s exactly what we’re doing.”