RALEIGH — On 10-days’ notice, following back-and-forth statements with state health officials, the North Carolina Republican Party held its first-ever virtual state convention on Friday, July 10. The North Carolina Democratic Party held a virtual convention earlier this year.
NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley said the convention had 57 speakers either live or via video, with 11 votes on traditional party business such as platform, resolutions, the election of new RNC representatives and delegates to the RNC convention slated for next month in Jacksonville, Florida.
Whatley credited the NCGOP staff for pulling off the event, saying, “The NCGOP staff took a 10-day notice that we were going to have to run a virtual convention and totally crushed it. This is an awesome team that has not missed a beat throughout the COVID crisis and will outwork the Democrats every day until Nov. 3.”
Ed Broyhill, a businessman and philanthropist from Winston-Salem, is the new RNC committeeman. Broyhill noted his grandfather, J.E. Broyhill, served as RNC committeeman for 28 years. State Rep. Mark Brody (R-Union) elected to not run for re-election as committeeman.
Kyshia Lineberger, a Charlotte small business owner, was elected RNC committeewoman, replacing Dr. Ada Fisher of Salisbury.
The closing speakers of the convention were the three nominees at the top of the ballot this year: Justice Paul Newby, Sen. Thom Tillis and Lt. Gov. Dan Forest.
“I know it’s difficult to be virtual, but you know what, we like a good fight and we’re going to win it. We’re going to go door to door; we’re going to make phone calls; we’re going to raise money; we’re going to support these candidates up and down the ballot; and we are going to win in November,” Tillis said during his speech.
