2016 was a mixed bag for New Hampshire Republicans. The party’s top elected official, Senator Kelly Ayotte, lost her seat to Governor Hassan. But Chris Sununu’s win over fellow executive councilor Colin Van Ostern gave the GOP the Governor’s office for the first time in a dozen years.
For Jennifer Horn, electing a Republican governor was a top priority from day one.
"You know I said when I first became chairman, the first day that I was elected chairman back in 2013, I said we would win back the corner office come hell or high water. So, I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved as a team and I thinks it’s time to me to move on and try new things."
Horn says she will retire from the State Committee when her term ends at the annual meeting in January.
In statements, Governor-Elect Sununu and Senator Ayotte credited Horn with strengthening their party.
But Horns’ tenure was also marked by intra-party tension. She angered some Republicans by criticizing President-elect Donald Trump during the primary. She also took aim at Congressman Frank Guinta in a 2105 letter she wrote to other party officials. Horn said no longer believed in Guinta and called him “untruthful’ after he was cited for campaign finance violations.
Republicans will pick their next leader in January.
