The Alabama Republican Party has re-elected party Chairman Bill Armistead despite a campaign by the governor and other top Republicans to oust him.
The State Republican Executive Committee voted Saturday in Birmingham, with Armistead defeating challenger Matt Fridy. The winner will lead the GOP into the 2014 elections.
Gov. Robert Bentley, Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey and House Speaker Mike Hubbard supported Fridy. Armistead had the backing of Chief Justice Roy Moore.
Armistead told the executive committee that he led the party to major successes in the November election, including defeating the last Democrat in a statewide office and winning courthouse offices in traditionally Democratic counties. Fridy said the party is divided, despite its success, and it's time for a chairman to unite it.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.