The Republican Party of Virginia’s state central committee met Saturday morning virtually to elect a new party chair, but the meeting was quickly halted after a motion to delay the vote by a week so it could be held in person.
The party is selecting its third chair in the last year. Former Chair Rich Anderson led the party from 2020 until he joined the Trump administration in 2025.
State Sen. Mark Peake took over after Anderson left, but he resigned at the end of 2025 after Democrats won all three statewide elections and flipped 13 seats in the House of Delegates.
Three candidates are seeking the position: Chesapeake GOP Chair Nicholas Proffitt, longtime Republican staffer Jeff Ryer, and former congressional candidate Mike Clancy.
The meeting was held virtually due to the winter weather forecast for Virginia.
Sen. Bill DeSteph, R-Virginia Beach, moved to postpone the meeting by one week so it can be held in person.
“I think it’s imperative to have an in-person meeting, especially when we’re electing a new chairman,” DeSteph said.
48 members voted in favor of the delay, while only 24 voted against.
The meeting is now scheduled for Sat, Feb. 7.