After two unsuccessful rounds of voting, challenger Jane Timken unseated chairman Matt Borges to become the next leader of the Ohio Republican Party.
On Friday morning, the Ohio GOP's 66-member central committee gathered to end a contentious battle, which ended in Borges withdrawing his name from consideration but winning a separate vote to become Chairman Emeritus.
The first two rounds of voting ended in Timken winning 33 votes to Borges' 32. The winning candidate would have needed 34 votes, a majority. After Borges withdrew, Timken won unanimously.
Before the meeting, President-elect Donald Trump personally intervened in support of Timken, Stark County GOP vice-chair, fundraiser and member of one of the Ohio GOP's most politically generous families.
Timken challenged Borges on grounds that he failed to "fully support" Trump after the New York billionaire won the party's nomination, which was his obligation as chairman.
Gov. John Kasich, who didn't support Trump, also called delegates in support of Borges.
