New York Republicans, reeling from Tuesday’s Democratic wave, are openly calling for the ouster of longtime state party chairman Ed Cox — with outgoing Rep. Mike Lawler’s name floated as a possible successor just days after Lawler lost his own reelection race.

“I think a lot of people really want Ed Cox’s head,” one NY GOP insider told the New York Post. Another said conservatives are already moving behind the scenes to remove him. Newly elected Rep. Anthony Constantino posted overnight: “Fire Ed Cox!” and called the state Republican establishment “a group of scammers.”

Cox, 80, has led New York Republicans for most of the past two decades, a stretch in which Democrats have dominated statewide offices since Gov. George Pataki left in 2006. On Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul crushed GOP challenger Bruce Blakeman by about 20 points. Rep. Elise Stefanik said the state party “needs to be built from scratch” with “significant change in structure and leadership.”

Supporters of Lawler, 40, point to his tenure representing a swing Hudson Valley seat, his time as Rockland County GOP chair, and his earlier role as state party executive director. Stefanik said Lawler “would be absolutely fantastic” as chair, though she was unsure he wants the job. Erie GOP Chair Michael Kracker and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis have also been mentioned.

Cox rejected resignation talk: “No. I’m not stepping down. We have a lot of work to do.” Businessman John Catsimatidis urged the party not to panic and called Cox its biggest fundraiser. Insiders still warned that if Lawler publicly asked Cox to resign, he could quickly collect support from half the county chairs. The state committee is not due to vote on leadership until September 2027, but a collapse in support could force an earlier exit.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)