NORTH CAROLINA -- The chairman of the state's elections board resigned Saturday.
- Andy Penry, a Democrat, submitted his resignation following complaints about comments he's made online criticizing President Donald Trump.
- Penry says he's leaving the board because he didn't want to undermine an ongoing investigation of the 9th congressional district race.
- NCGOP Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse says a new chairman should be someone not currently on the board.
Andy Penry, a Democrat, submitted his resignation following complaints about comments he's made online criticizing President Donald Trump.
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Penry says he's leaving the board because he didn't want to undermine an ongoing investigation of potential wrongdoing in the disputed race between Republican Mark Harris and Democrat Dan McCready of the 9th congressional district.
The NC Republican Party says the onus is on Gov. Roy Cooper to rectify the situation.
"This is on the governor now to clean this mess up. The governor must immediately appoint somebody that both sides of the aisle can have utter confidence in to manage the process of certifying the ninth congressional race and other elections in question," said NCGOP Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse.
The board is investigating fraudulent activity related to mail-in absentee ballots. It could order a new election.
Woodhouse says a new chairman should be someone not currently on the board.
He also suggests former chief justice of the NC Supreme Court Burley Mitchell should take that role.
Spectrum News reached out to the governor's office for comment, but have not yet received a response.