The New Jersey Republican Party elected Monmouth County Clerk Christine Hanlon as its next chair on Monday night as the state GOP buckles down after a devastating 2025.
Hanlon must now set the New Jersey GOP back on track after a devastating 2025. Democratic Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill beat Republican Jack Ciattarelli by about 14 percentage points last fall, and Democrats flipped five Assembly seats, granting them their largest majority in decades.
Hanlon’s predecessor, Glenn Paulsen, stepped down at the end of 2025 after Ciattarelli’s loss, as did Vice Chair Darlene Shotmeyer and Executive Director Kate Gibbs. Ciattarelli selected Paulsen to help him win the governorship last year; Republicans believed they had a serious shot at victory, especially after President Donald Trump’s overperformance in 2024.
Four candidates ran to succeed Paulsen: Hanlon, former congressional candidate and consultant Rosemary Becchi, former Bogota Mayor and conservative activist Steve Lonegan, and activist Michael Currie. Hanlon received 26 votes on Monday night, while Becchi received 15, Lonegan received one, and Currie received none.
Every year is an election year in New Jersey, and 2026 is no different. Republican Joe Hathaway is seeking to replace Sherrill in the special election in New Jersey’s 11th congressional district; though the primary election to select the 11th’s Democratic nominee is next month, the Democrat will enter the race with a clear advantage.
And in the congressional midterms later this year, Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield) must defend a biennially competitive seat in the 7th congressional district, not to mention the flurry of downballot races in competitive counties and municipalities.
The new chair is further tasked with convincing donors that GOP candidates are worth the investment in 2026 and 2027. For years, Republicans had hoped that Ciattarelli would return the GOP to the governor’s mansion, but Sherrill’s dominant win has forced a reset for the party.
This article was updated with the results of the race.
