Ambrose Candidacy Creates National Committeewoman Vacancy

Nicolee Ambrose is running for Congress. That means another election is coming.

Apr 16, 2022

Maryland Republican National Committeewoman Nicolee Ambrose filed for Congress yesterday at the filing deadline. Ambrose is one of a handful of Republicans looking to unseat 2nd District Congressman Dutch Ruppersburger.

Her candidacy, however, creates a vacancy in the office of National Committeewoman.

Article V, Section 5.5.a.3 of the Maryland Republican Party Bylaws states:

No individual may either hold or seek elected public office while serving as an officer of the Party. An individual is considered to be seeking office when he/she has filed a Certificate of Candidacy with the State or County Board of Elections or has applied to fill a vacancy in an elected office.

The party's officers to which the section applies include the Party Chairman, Party 1st Vice Chairman, Party 2nd Vice Chairman, Party 3rd Vice Chairman, Party Secretary, Party Treasurer, National Committeeman, and National Committeewoman.

Bottom line: Ambrose cannot be a candidate for office and the National Committeewoman, per the MDGOP bylaws.

A similar vacancy was created earlier this year when Maryland Republican Party 3rd Vice Chairman Chris Tomlinson resigned after he filed to run for the Maryland House of Delegates.

Ambroses’s former RNC Colleague, Wyoming National Committeewoman Harriet Hageman, also faced this issue when she resigned after filing to challenge incumbent Congresswoman Liz Cheney:

“While I have thoroughly enjoyed my work as National Committeewoman, I will not be able to continue in that role at this time and am hereby submitting my resignation to be effective immediately. I have every intention of staying active in the Republican Party and in Republican politics, but will be doing so through different means."

Ambrose recently supported Hageman at a fundraiser in DC along with other members of Congress.

Ambrose’s vacancy as National Committewoman comes at a critical time as the party ramps up for the 2022 Election. Ambrose has been overseeing the Super Saturday program for some time. If she remained in her position, it would cause potential conflicts of interest with that program, particularly for any Super Saturdays that overlap with the 2nd Congressional District.

Potential candidates to replace Ambrose as National Committeewoman include:

Faith Loudon: Former Candidate for Congress and member of the Anne Arundel County Republican Central Committee;
Nicole Bennett: 1st Vice-Chairman of the Maryland Republican Party;
Maria Sofia: former Maryland Young Republicans Chair and current 4th Vice-Chair of the Maryland Federation of Republican Women;
Luanne Ruddell; Chairman of the Garrett County Republican Party and 1st Vice-President of the Maryland Federation of Republican Women.
Diana Waterman, former Maryland Republican Party Chairman and former President of the Maryland Federation of Republican Women.