Overview
- Amy Carnevale told state committee members Monday that she will not seek a third two-year term, creating an open leadership contest after a midterm that left Republicans shut out of statewide office and costing them multiple state House seats.
- Elizabeth Dionne announced a bid for chair and said she will donate her labor and take no salary for a full two-year term if elected, framing fundraising, messaging, and candidate support as top priorities.
- Gene Parini, who declared his run in September as Sandwich Republican Town Committee chair, remains a declared candidate and has emphasized rebuilding local town committees and recruiting candidates for every race.
- The party again faces large unpaid bills and the fallout from primary-era problems, including alleged signature-fraud that affected statewide ballots and a late-campaign arrest, issues that party leaders say weakened coordination and voter outreach.
- The 80-seat Republican State Committee is expected to choose a new chair in early January, a decision that will shape short-term fundraising, candidate development for local races, and the party’s strategy heading into the 2028 cycle.