The N.C. Republican Party has elected Hasan Harnett as its new chairman Saturday, naming a successor to Claude Pope. Harnett, a businessman and author from Concord, served as campaign manager for GOP congressional candidate Vince Coakley last year who lost to his Democratic challenger. Harnett, who will be the state party’s first black chairman, says he can expand the GOP’s appeal to minorities. “If you can raise money in that district, you can raise money anywhere,” Harnett said. “We need a bold, reinvigorated Republican Party who listens to the grass roots. Together we will win in 2016 because teamwork makes the dream work.” Harnett’s challenger, Craig Collins, had the endorsement of nearly all major Republican state leaders: Gov. Pat McCrory, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore and was nominated by the House Rules chairman, David Lewis of Dunn. 

SOURCE: The News & Observer