New Hampshire GOP appoints new chairman

(The Center Square) — New Hampshire Republicans have tapped former Rochester Mayor Paul Callaghan to lead the party following the abrupt resignation of its former chairman.

The GOP’s Executive Committee announced Tuesday that it approved Callaghan to serve as chairman of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee. He replaces Jim MacEachern, who stepped down Monday after less than years as the party’s chairman.

“I’m incredibly honored to take on this role,” Callaghan said in a statement. “The strength of our party comes from the grassroots up, and I’m excited to work with our committees and elected officials across New Hampshire to win in November.”

Callaghan, a veteran law enforcement officer, was elected Rochester mayor in 2021 after flipping a seat held by Democrats for decades. Republican party officials credit Callaghan with reducing crime, reviving the city’s downtown and creating jobs during his tenure as mayor. He is also currently a lieutenant in the Strafford County Sheriff’s Department.

Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte was among tho...