New York Republican State Committee
The New York Republican State Committee, established in 1855, is the New York State affiliate of the United States Republican Party (GOP). The party has headquarters in Albany, Buffalo, and New York City.[2] The purpose of the committee is to nominate Republican candidates for election to New York and federal political roles.[3] It also assists its nominees in their election campaigns.
History[edit]
The New York Republican State Committee was established in 1855, one year after the founding of the "Republican Party" by William H. Seward and Thurlow Weed.[3] Initially, the committee met every three years to plan the Republican National Convention and it occasionally met during the election campaigning periods. The committee nominees were first politically successful in 1856.[4] Since 1959, Nelson Rockefeller (1959–73) and George Pataki (1995–2006) have been the only two elected Republican governors of New York.[5]
Until 1911, the New York Republican State Committee nominated its candidates through a primary or caucus system, which meant the average voter had very little input as to who would be their choice for the state and federal offices. That system was taken out of practice after the passing of the Direct Primary Law in 1911, which allowed for more input from those present at the primary.[3]