July 7, 2022 3:20 a.m.

On Wednesday, the Oregon Republican Party announced that Justin Hwang is its new chairman.

A release said Hwang was elected as vice-chair in May, and stepped up to fill the vacancy after Herman Baertschiger resigned. Baertschiger is a Josephine County Commissioner and led the party since late March, following the resignation of Douglas County State Senator Dallas Heard. This transition makes Hwang the third person to lead the party since March.

Hwang said he is humbled and honored to serve in this new role. Hwang said, “I’m excited to bring a fresh voice to the Party along with my years of experience as a small business owner. My colleagues and I are ready to get to work and we only have one vision in mind for 2022 – to elect more Republicans to office”. He said, “The ORP is committed to doing the work to ensure the red wave comes to Oregon this November”.

The release said Hwang is the first Asian-American and first Korean American to serve as Oregon Republican Party Chair. He is a small business owner with more than thirty restaurants across the Portland-metro area and is a former state legislative candidate.

GOP officials did not respond to a request from News Radio 93-9 FM and 1240 KQEN for information regarding Baertschiger’s exit from his leadership role.