Gov. James S. Gilmore III resigned from his post as the Republican National Committee chairman Friday, citing a desire to spend more time with his family after his term as governor ends in January.
He will continue to fulfill his duties as chairman until the RNC's January meeting. A replacement has not been chosen at this point.
Gilmore received the position in return for his support of President Bush during Bush's presidential campaign, including aiding Bush in winning the Virginia primary.
"It has been an outstanding term," RNC spokesman Trent Duffy said. "He has worked tirelessly for the party on behalf of President Bush."
But by some accounts Gilmore's tenure as RNC chairman was marred by disputes with Deputy Chairman Jack Oliver and the President's Office.
"The evidence suggests that [Gilmore] was encouraged to resign by some within the RNC if not Bush himself," said Scott Keeter, professor of public and international affairs at George Mason University. "It's very unusual for somebody to work in his position for such a short time and leave when he did."
Larry J. Sabato, professor of government and foreign affairs, noted that the odds may have been stacked against Gilmore from the beginning.
"The governor was put in a very bad position," Sabato said. "He was expected to run the RNC, but he wasn't given the authority to run it. I think he made the right decision for himself and his family."
Gilmore's resignation comes less than a month after two Republican losses in the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races. Some analysts suspect that these defeats may have affected Gilmore's decision.
"This was the main test that Republicans faced, and they didn't pass," Keeter said.
Robert Holsworth, director of the Center for Public Policy at Virginia Commonwealth University, said he suspected that Gilmore's decision to resign had more to do with disputes with the White House.
"Elections were something the national committee could point to," Holsworth said. But "I think it had much more to do with the national level. The folks in the Bush administration aren't shedding any tears over this."
With his term as governor nearing its final month, many speculate that Gilmore intends to follow in former governor George Allen's footsteps and find a job at a law firm.
The position of "RNC chairman doesn't pay nearly as much as [Gilmore] could make in the private sector," Virginia Republican Party Chairman Ed Matricardi said.
Virginia law prohibits a governor from running for a second consecutive term, but there is no restriction on Gilmore running for governor again in 2005. Matricardi said he does not think this is likely.
"We have a wealth of potential candidates for 2005," he said.
Matricardi also denied that the budget impasse had anything to do with Gilmore's resignation.
Nonetheless, Gilmore's political career is not likely to be over.
"I wouldn't count him out just yet," Holsworth said. When Gilmore "decides to get involved, he's one of the most determined individuals I've ever seen"
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