COLUMBUS, Ohio- The Ohio Republican Party has named Alex Triantafilou, longtime leader of the Hamilton County Republican Party, as its next chairman.
Following a vote Friday by the Ohio Republican Party’s Central Committee, Triantafilou will replace Bob Paduchik, who has led the state party since February 2021.
Triantafilou has served as chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party since 2008, as well as a Hamilton County prosecutor and a judge on two courts. Before serving as a judge, Triantafilou served as vice-chairman of the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign. He is a former president of the Green Township Republican Club and a former member of the Republican Executive and Judicial Screening Committee.
Triantafilou defeated several opponents, including Bryan Williams, chairman of the Summit County Republican Party; Dale Fellows, chairman of the Lake County Republican Party; and Jean Anderson, former mayor of Vermillion.
The committee members voted by secret ballot; however, Triantafilou won after a single vote, meaning committee members cast at least 34 out of the 66 possible votes in his favor. Following his defeat, Williams proposed that Triantafilou have unanimous support from the committee in an open vote.
After Williams unsuccessfully challenged Paduchik’s leadership in September, two months before the midterm elections, Paduchik decided not to compete for re-election.
Triantafilou, Williams, and Jimmy Stewart, a former Republican state representative who currently heads the Ohio Gas Association, were the three leading contenders in the original leadership race. However, Stewart withdrew from the campaign on the night before the vote, endorsing Triantafilou instead.
In his presentation to the committee, Williams urged modifications to the endorsement procedure. He cautioned against becoming a “brain-dead party” that automatically endorses people who don’t share their values.
“The first thing we have to do is not get Republicans elected. The first thing we have to do is have a platform that tells people who we are and what we stand for. Because if we don’t have a North Star of issues that are relevant to Ohio, we have nothing,” Williams said.
In his speech for the nomination, Triantafilou stated that he favored updating the party’s platform and rules and carrying out a financial audit.
“I will do everything in my power to advance the cause of the Republican Party in Ohio for victory. That’s what it’s all about,” Triantafilou said.
Triantafilou made an effort to allay any doubts committee members could have regarding his selection after winning the election.
“The only deal I made, folks, to have this gavel is with all of you. I’m going to start by telling the truth,” Triantafilou said.
Triantafilou informed party members that his purpose was to bring the group together and that he works for them. According to him, the party’s next significant fight would be to unseat veteran US Senator Sherrod Brown, (D-OH), who is up for re-election in 2024. In 2018, Brown defeated Republican Jim Renacci by over seven points.
“I am focused on the mission ahead. The mission ahead is to beat Sherrod Brown in two years. It is to beat and make this state red. It is to win races up and down the ballot from the White House all the way down to the local courthouse,” Triantafilou said.
Triantafilou is the Ohio GOP’s fourth party chair since 2017, when Jane Timken replaced Matt Borges as the hand-picked successor of former President Donald Trump. Paduchik took over as party leader after Timken resigned in 2021 to compete for the US Senate.
Hamilton County GOP Vice Chairman Triffon Callos will lead the county party until it selects a new leader.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
