Pinnell to become new RNC State Party Director

Following his recent announcement that he would not be seeking re-election, Oklahoma GOP Chairman Matt Pinnell has some big news. The Republican National Committee issued the following press release today:

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus Names Matt Pinnell State Party Director

WASHINGTON – Today, Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus announced the appointment of Matt Pinnell as the new RNC State Party Director. Pinnell will report directly to Chairman Priebus in addition to Political Director Chris McNulty. Chairman Priebus released the following statement:

“As the RNC moves forward with the recommendations of the Growth and Opportunity Project, I am very pleased to announce outgoing Oklahoma Chairman Matt Pinnell will serve as the chief liaison between the RNC and state parties. Matt knows the workings of the state party system and has the vision to help strengthen state parties as we build for 2014 and 2016,” said Chairman Priebus. “In order to achieve success we must continue to foster existing relationships, strengthen field operations, and welcome new members into the party starting at the state level.

“At the RNC, we’re revamping our entire political field operation to be bottom-up and community based. That means the 50 state parties and territories must take a leading role. As a former local and state party chair, I understand the importance of close coordination and collaboration with the national RNC office. The future of all fifty state parties and territorial parties will be Matt’s top priority. He will ensure we’re giving state parties the support they need, so they can in turn support and empower the work of grassroots activists and volunteers. They are the heart of our party, and our political structure should be one that allows ideas to flow from the individuals on the ground up to RNC leaders—not the other way around.”

Biography of Matt Pinnell:

Matt Pinnell, 33, became Chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party on June 26, 2010, and was re-elected in May of 2011 to a full two-year term. Until recently, he was the youngest State Chairman in the country.

Pinnell was appointed in 2010 as “Chairman of the State Chairmen” by Chairman Priebus. In his role as Chairman of the RNC’s State Chairmen’s Committee, Matt directed the sharing of ideas and best practices among the nation’s state Republican leaders.

In 2010, Pinnell oversaw the most successful election cycle for Oklahoma Republicans in state history–helping sweep all eight statewide races and expanding majorities in both the state house and senate. During the 2008 election cycle Pinnell served as the “Oklahoma Victory” Director for the McCain-Palin ticket, helping sweep all 77 counties for John McCain. McCain won 65.4 percent of the vote in Oklahoma, the highest percentage of any state in the nation.

In 2012, the Oklahoma Republican Party continued to see great success under Pinnell’s leadership. Oklahoma–again–won all 77 counties for our presidential nominee Mitt Romney, and swept all five Congressional seats. In addition, Republican voter registration is at an all-time high in the state.

Pinnell spent three years in Washington, D.C., in the field of grassroots advocacy and legislative affairs for the American International Auto Dealers Association (AIADA) and the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS). He is a former campaign aide to U.S. Congressman Steve Largent, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, and U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. Matt is a graduate of Oral Roberts University and lives in Tulsa with his wife Lisa and their three children.