Orrall edges Prunier in Mass. GOP National Committeewoman election

By NBP Staff | April 6, 2016, 7:00 EDT

Rep. Keiko Orrall spoke to Republican state committee members at Tuesday night meeting where she was elected as the next state’s National Committeewoman beating out incumbent Committeewoman Chanel Prunier (far right). [Photo: Antonio Caban/SHNS]

With the support of Gov. Charlie Baker, Lakeville state Rep. Keiko Orrall narrowly defeated incumbent Chanel Prunier in Monday’s election for Republican National Committeewoman of Massachusetts, according to MassLive.com.

The final vote of the members of the Massachusetts state GOP: Orrall 41, Prunier 37.

Orrall won a special election in 2011 to replace former Democratic House member Stephen Canessa. Prunier, a grassroots Republican activist, took over as National Committeewoman in 2013 and supported Baker’s campaign for governor the following year.

In March, Baker endorsed Orrall, following his concerted effort to help allies, including Orrall’s husband, win seats on the state committee. For her part, Prunier received endorsements from a number of Republican state representatives from around the state, colleagues of Orrall’s, including Rep. Jim Lyons of Andover, Rep. Marc Lombardo of Billerica, and Rep. Shaunna O’Connell of Taunton. But some Republicans claimed Prunier was not supportive enough of Baker.

Prunier will hold the position through the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this summer, although Orrall hopes to be elected as a delegate as well. Earlier this year, Orrall was on record as supporting Florida republican Senator Marco Rubio for president. But unlike her patron, Gov. Baker, who has said he will not support front-runner Donald Trump should he win the GOP nomination in July, Orrall has said that she could vote for the real estate mogul and reality TV star.

In March, Orrall said she would “be supporting the Republican in November.”

“I think we need to let the people’s vote count,” she said.

This article has been updated to reflect that Prunier will retain the position through the national convention.