Virginia GOP at a Crossroads: Four Vie for Party Chair After 2025 Losses

By Michael Phillips | Virginia Bay News

After a bruising 2025 election cycle that handed Democrats control of every statewide office and flipped the Virginia House of Delegates, the Republican Party of Virginia is preparing for a consequential leadership change that will shape its path forward.

Outgoing chairman Mark Peake, a state senator from Lynchburg, announced his resignation earlier this month, effective January 1, 2026. Peake served less than a year after being elected in April, citing the need to focus on the General Assembly session and the importance of installing a full-time party leader capable of confronting a newly empowered Democratic majority.

Until a successor is chosen, Vice Chair Kristi Way is serving as acting chairwoman.

A Pivotal Election Ahead

The Republican Party’s State Central Committee—an approximately 80-member governing body—will elect a new chairman at its next meeting, expected around January 31, 2026. The winner will complete the term through 2028, overseeing the party’s rebuilding effort ahead of high-stakes 2026 elections.

That task will not be small. Democrats swept the 2025 contests for governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general, and now control the House of Delegates. They also hold the pen for future redistricting decisions, raising concerns among Republicans that Virginia’s current 6D-5R congressional map could be redrawn aggressively in Democrats’ favor.

The Four Declared Candidates

As of this week, four Republicans have publicly indicated their intent to seek the chairmanship, representing a mix of party insiders and recent candidates.

Cameron Hamilton brings national credentials to the race. A former Navy SEAL, Hamilton briefly served as acting FEMA administrator during the Trump administration in early 2025. He ran unsuccessfully for the GOP nomination in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District in 2024. Supporters see him as an outsider figure with strong Trump ties who could energize the party’s base.

Mike Clancy, a lawyer and business executive with experience in technology and cybersecurity, won the Republican nomination in Northern Virginia in 2024 but lost the general election. Clancy positions himself as a faith- and family-focused conservative who can help the party reconnect with suburban voters who have drifted away in recent cycles.

Nicholas Proffitt, a staffer in Attorney General Jason Miyares’ office, is a current State Central Committee member representing the 2nd Congressional District. A longtime party activist from Hampton Roads, Proffitt emphasizes his familiarity with party rules, conventions, and grassroots organization.

Lynne Bogle, chairwoman of the Patrick County Republican Committee and a State Central Committee member from Southwest Virginia, offers a strong grassroots résumé. A retired project manager and firearms instructor, Bogle appeals to rural conservatives who argue the party must refocus on turnout and local organization rather than top-down strategy.

What’s at Stake

The chairmanship race highlights deeper tensions within Virginia’s GOP—between establishment continuity and calls for a more populist, Trump-aligned reset. With Democrats now controlling state government and eyeing redistricting, the next chair will be tasked with unifying a fractured party, rebuilding donor confidence, and crafting a message that resonates statewide.

Beyond redistricting, the 2026 cycle will feature all 11 U.S. House seats and the U.S. Senate seat held by Mark Warner. For Republicans, the leadership decision made next month may determine whether the party can mount a serious comeback—or continue to struggle in an increasingly blue-leaning Commonwealth.

As of December 30, no endorsements or additional candidates have emerged publicly. With floor nominations possible, the field could still expand. What is clear is that Virginia Republicans face a defining moment, and the choice of chair will signal which direction the party intends to take.