Chad Connelly Resigns As SCGOP Chair

Sources within the SCGOP have confirmed that Chad Connelly has stepped down as state chair at a meeting of the Executive Committee in Prosperity on Saturday morning.

Connelly is taking a full-time position with the Republican National Committee. He will be replaced by Matt Moore, who was the Executive Director of the SCGOP before taking a position with Sen. Tim Scott. 

Moore was voted in by acclimation this morning.

Connelly was re-elected to a second term at the statewide convention in May with more than 70 percent of the vote. 

But in the past week, a segment within the party, long dissatisfied with him, had introduced a motion to censure Connelly and Rep. Alan Clemmons, who chaired the convention.

The dissatisfaction with Connelly dated back to his original election in 2011, an acrimonious fight between Stephen Brown. But a source in attendance at today's meeting said the censure and the ongoing strife played no factor in Connelly's decision to step down.

The same source said the RNC had been actively recruiting Connelly and a deal was finalized in the past day or two. One of the sticking points was Connelly's reluctance to move his family to Washington, DC, but the position he'll be taking will allow him to stay in Newberry County.

A press release with more details is expected in the next few days from the RNC.

In assuming the leadership of the statewide party, Moore becomes the youngest statewide chair in the country. He will resign from his position in Scott's office immediately. Connelly was not paid as Party chair, but the SCGOP budget committee is expected to meet next week to finalize a package for Moore. Sources told Patch that the salary could be in excess of $100,000.

Statement from SCGOP:

"In a vote of the South Carolina Republican Party state executive committee held earlier today, Matt Moore was elected State Chairman. Moore becomes Chairman immediately and will succeed former Chairman Chad Connelly, who has taken a position at the Republican National Committee.

"I am honored and humbled to serve South Carolina Republicans as State Chairman and thank the State Executive Committee for their trust. I pledge to continue our party's work to promote prosperity through freedom and opportunity for all Americans," said Moore. "Next year's historic election cycle presents an incredible opportunity for South Carolina Republicans. With the threat of ObamaCare and other misguided liberal policies looming large, we must do everything in our power to leave our next generation better off. Taking back the U.S. Senate in 2014 and the White House in 2016 starts right here at home."

"I feel blessed and excited about the new opportunities this role at the RNC will bring," said former Chairman Connelly. "My time as Chairman of the SCGOP has been a rewarding experience and I want to thank all of those who helped our party thrive. We've made great strides in South Carolina over the past few years and I'm confident that I leave the party in very capable hands to build on the successes we've had. The RNC is implementing new and bold ideas to expand our party and I'm thrilled to join the team. I'll be on board full time and will be able to relay the details very soon."

Matt Moore, of Columbia, has served as State Director for United States Senator Tim Scott since January. He served as the South Carolina Republican Party's Executive Director in 2011 and 2012, managing over $3 million in political expenditures as Governor Mitt Romney soundly defeated President Barack Obama in South Carolina. Moore has advised three winning gubernatorial campaigns and nearly one hundred other winning Republican campaigns.

Moore and his wife, Meg, are members of Shandon Baptist Church in Columbia. He sits on the board of the Palmetto Family Council and holds a bachelor of science in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech.

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