The West Virginia Republican Executive Committee will be selecting new leaders on July 30 in Charleston. Current GOP Chairman Mark Harris faces allegations of misbehavior and is not seeking reelection.

Ohio County Republican Executive Committee Chairwoman Elgine McArdle and Putnam County Republican Executive Committee Chairman Tony Hodge announced that they are running as a team for chair and vice-chair.

Hodge, a Hurricane resident, told MetroNews that McArdle and he are going to bring respect to the leadership.

McArdle and Hodge have both served on the Rules and Bylaws committee and are well-versed in the management of the party. “I’m the current Bylaws chair, when she was the Bylaws chair she oversaw the biggest overhaul in 42 years of the party, and during our last meeting we passed some pretty big amendments as well,” Hodge said.

Hodge said that he is not interested in running for the chair because it is not the right time. “I have young children and being a chair of a party is very demanding on your time. Anyone who knows me knows that my family is first,” Hodge said.

Both Hodge and McArdle were delegates to the Republican National Convention in 2020.