April 11, 2025 4:00 a.m.

A former Douglas County resident and the chair of the Oregon Republican Party has quietly resigned following allegations of sexual violence against his ex-wife that were first reported by the Oregon Journalism Project earlier this week:  https://www.wweek.com/news/2025/04/08/the-oregon-gops-new-chairman-brings-some-baggage-to-his-role/

A GOP release issued on Wednesday from former chair Jerry Cummings referenced a Tuesday publication from Nigel Jaquis of Willamette Week which talked about the charges against the Columbia County insurance agent and minister. Cummings said, “Beginning sixteen years ago this fall, my first wife and I went through a messy and painful divorce. I’ve been on record defending against these things for a decade and a half. My children are now young adults. And beginning the cycle of he said/she said with their mother is not something I want to put then through in public forums”. Cummings, who was elected the state party GOP Chair in February, said his desire to unite the party and focus on winning elections is being hampered by these allegations and would be a distraction to the work of the party.

Cummings said, “I can’t honestly say that stepping down as chairman will be what is best for the party as it may embolden enemies from within and without to keep doing this to us”. However, Cummings said his position as chairman is not more important than his position as a dad, so stepping down to protect his children is not a hard call.

Oregon GOP vice chair Connie Whelchel is replacing Cummings as chair effective immediately.

According to this week’s Oregon Journalism Project report, Cummings has also been accused in recent lawsuits of failing to make payments on bank loans totaling $93,000 and withdrawing $17,000 from a separate bank account that didn’t have that amount of money available.

Cummings lived in Douglas County in the early 2000s, pastoring at an area church and working at a Christian media outlet.