Atlantic County GOP Chairman Donald Purdy has announced his candidacy for Republican National Committeeman, setting up a possible challenge with longtime incumbent Bill Palatucci.
Purdy will team up with Somerset County GOP State Committeewoman Janice Fields, a Bernards Township Committeewoman. She is seeking the Republican National Committeewoman post held for the last twenty years by Virginia Haines, who is not expected to seek re-election.
Palatucci, who first won the seat in 2010, faces a potentially tough race after emerging as a staunch critic of former President Donald Trump. His role as a top supporter of former Gov. Chris Christie’s run for the GOP presidential nomination, and then an active participant in discussions about Christie mounting a general election White House bid has an independent has some New Jersey Republicans wondering if it’s time to show him the door.
The Christie ally has not yet announced if he will run again. The New Jersey Globe has confirmed that Palatucci is seeking to postpone the vote on new RNC members who will take office in January until after the results of the 2024 presidential election are decided.
Purdy was recently chosen to be one of Trump’s statewide delegates.
“Our New Jersey delegation needs to head into Milwaukee united behind President Trump and focused on one thing, WINNING in November,” said Purdy. “There’s just too much at stake for the future of our state and the future of our country for us to be fighting amongst each other instead of with Biden and the Democrats – that’s the message Janice and I have been hearing from everyone we talk to.”
As county chairman, Purdy presided over a GOP sweep in Atlantic County last year that toppled a two-term Democratic sheriff, expanded the now 8-1 Republican majority on the Board of County Commissioners, and re-elected three Republican state legislators. He is a close political ally of State Sen. Vince Polistina (R-Egg Harbor Township).
The owner of several Atlantic County-based small businesses, he was the mayor of Galloway from 2014 to 2017 and a councilman from 2009 to 2014.
The New Jersey Globe first reported Haines’ retirement and Fields’ interest in the post.
“Don and I both served as mayor of our respective hometowns, so we know what it’s like to go out there and put your name on the ballot,” Field said. “We know what our candidates up and down the ballot need to be successful and will do everything we can to work with Chairman Whatley and Co-Chairwoman Trump to secure the resources necessary to make it happen.”
Fields has been a state committeewoman since 2014 and was elected to the Bernards Township Committee in 2019, serving as mayor in 2021. She is a former President of the Somerset County Federation of Republican Women and a recipient of their Millicent Fenwick Award.