Trump aides pushed for new leader for New York GOP: report

Top aides to President Trump reportedly worked for months to install a new leader atop the New York Republican Party as they sought to cement control over the state GOP ahead of the 2020 race.

Trump associates discussed the race to lead the party for months with Nick Langworthy, who had served as the Erie County Republican Party chairman since December and will replace outgoing New York state GOP Chairman Ed Cox, New York officials briefed on the conversation told The New York Times.

{mosads}Bill Stepien, a former White House political director, was reportedly in contact with Longworth since December as the Erie County Republican built up support to oust Cox.

Though Trump and his aides were publicly silent about Langworthy’s bid to overthrow Cox, the president was kept up to date about the affairs of his home state’s Republican Party. People close to the president said Trump became more engaged as Langworthy’s replacement of Cox became more likely.

Dan Scavino, the White House digital director, reportedly spoke with a local Republican official in Dutchess County in recent weeks to say that Trump “likes” Cox but was frustrated that the party lost control of the state Senate in 2018. 

Cox had headed the party since 2009, taking the helm just before a Tea Party wave helped Republicans win several Democrat-held congressional seats. He drew Trump’s ire in 2014 when he backed a different candidate for governor while other Republicans sought to draft Trump as a candidate, according to the Times. He was also slow to support Trump in his 2016 White House bid.

“While the New York State G.O.P. declined under Ed Cox, the Erie County Republican Party thrived,” Michael Caputo, who helped lead Trump’s campaign in New York in 2016, told the Times.

“Every time I attend Nick’s monthly grass-roots meeting, I see more and more young people,” he added. “He’s got them volunteering, petitioning, voting by the dozens.”

Despite any past enmity, Cox will work to aid Trump’s reelection efforts in 2020.

The Trump campaign officially announced Monday that Cox would leave the New York GOP to take a role with Trump Victory, a joint-fundraising effort by the Trump campaign and Republican National Committee (RNC).

“Ed Cox has been invaluable as Chairman of the New York State Republican Party, and I’m thrilled that he is joining our finance team to help re-elect President Trump,” Todd Ricketts, the finance chairman of Trump Victory, said in a statement.

Cox will serve out the remainder of his term as chair until early July.

“Ensuring President Trump is reelected is the most critical task at hand and I’m honored to take on the important role of helping deliver the resources he needs for a huge victory next year,” Cox said in a statement. 

“Serving as Chairman of the NYGOP over the last ten years has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my life, and I will continue to actively help elect more Republicans here in New York.”