Woodhouse to leave as NC GOP executive director in June

NCGOP executive director Dallas Woodhouse speaks to media with NCGOP chairman Robin Hayes. FILE

RALEIGH — The North Carolina Republican Party’s executive director says he won’t seek the job again when a new chairman is elected by party activists in June.

Dallas Woodhouse announced Monday he’ll move on after 3½ years at the post, which often made him the party’s public face.

The state GOP has faced significant challenges over the last several months, most recently with a federal criminal indictment of outgoing Chairman Robin Hayes, an insurance magnate and two others on bribery, conspiracy and other charges.

Woodhouse isn’t mentioned in the indictment. He confirmed Monday he testified before a grand jury in December but is not a target of any probe. He says it’s not connected to his departure when his contract ends at the end of the state GOP convention in early June.

Woodhouse announced his departure in a Facebook post on Monday. “I think it is time for me to tackle new challenges and for the Party to begin a new era of leadership that will lead us in to the 2020 elections,” he said. “Being your Executive Director is the absolute hardest job I have ever loved. However, the last few months have been grueling and I think the NCGOP could use a new set of rested eyes to see through. With a little rest, I will be ready to fight for our shared beliefs from a new perch.”