DERRY, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire Republicans have settled on a tea party-style candidate to be their new leader.
It's a signal that rank-and-file activists in the early presidential-voting state are looking to make inroads against the party establishment.
More than 400 of the state's GOP faithful on Saturday chose former gubernatorial candidate Jack Kimball for a two-year term as chairman.
Kimball edged businesswoman Juliana Bergeron, a county leader who had the backing of state party leaders, including exiting chairman John H. Sununu.
In a speech, Kimball talked about restoring liberty to the nation and protecting freedoms. That kind of talk is usually reserved for candidates, not chairmen.
The party leadership race usually is a low-key affair. But Kimball made headlines when he predicted the state's first-in-the-nation primary would pick a conservative candidate. Past chairmen have remained neutral.