Current:Home > Contact-usNorth Dakota GOP party leader resigns 1 week into job after posts about women, Black people-LoTradeCoin
North Dakota GOP party leader resigns 1 week into job after posts about women, Black people
View Date:2024-12-23 19:23:51
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Only a week into the job, the North Dakota Republican Party’s executive director has resigned after a media outlet publicized some of his social media posts that were demeaning toward women and dismissed concerns raised by Black people about racism.
The party announced the resignation Monday of Dave Roetman, who previously worked for the South Dakota GOP. He quit seven days after being hired and a few days after Forum News Service reported about his posts and replies on X, formerly known as Twitter. The posts dated from just over a year ago to as recently as this month.
Many of the posts and replies were about political issues. But they also included crass comments, such as replying “she seems nice” to several posts of women in revealing clothing, and responding unfavorably to a woman in a plus-sized swimsuit. In another reply, he speculated about whether women should be addressed as “broads” or “dames,” adding that debates about gender and language are why “men are distancing themselves from women professionally.”
In a post about a Black reporter who left a music festival after a man called her a racist word, Roetman replied, “Narcissist?” On a post of a news story about Black Americans moving out of the U.S., he replied with a meme that read, “Well... ... bye.”
Roetman told The Associated Press on Monday that “I think that recent events have been a distraction for the party, and I just don’t want it to be a distraction. We need to have a strong party, and I’m just going to take a different path here.”
North Dakota Republican Party Chair Sandi Sanford said she was “very disappointed” by Roetman’s posts. She said the search committee “looked at everything,” and that the disparaging posts were “kind of buried.”
Sanford said Roetman resigned after they talked about his posts following the Forum article.
“This is your content,” Sanford said she advised Roetman. “You’re an adult, you’re going to have to deal with responding to it.”
The executive director manages the party office and staff, assists with overall financials and fundraising, is the primary contact between the party and district officials, and communicates with elected officials, Sanford said.
Roetman had succeeded Samantha Holly, who resigned in September as executive director, citing “several obstacles that have made it difficult for me to continue working here” in her resignation letter.
___
AP writer Summer Ballentine in Jefferson City, Missouri, contributed to this story.
veryGood! (7)
Related
- Veterans face challenges starting small businesses but there are plenty of resources to help
- Oklahoma school district adding anti-harassment policies after nonbinary teen’s death
- Why Dolly Parton Is a Fan of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Little Love Affair
- Prominent conservative lawyer Ted Olson, who argued Bush recount and same-sex marriage cases, dies
- After Baltimore mass shooting, neighborhood goes full year with no homicides
- Agents search home of ex-lieutenant facing scrutiny as police probe leak of school shooting evidence
- Review: 'Emilia Pérez' is the most wildly original film you'll see in 2024
- Gisele Bündchen Makes First Major Appearance Since Pregnancy
- Rachael Ray Details Getting Bashed Over Decision to Not Have Kids
- 2 credit unions in Mississippi and Louisiana are planning to merge
Ranking
- Bohannan requests a recount in Iowa’s close congressional race as GOP wins control of House
- Justine Bateman feels like she can breathe again in 'new era' after Trump win
- Love Actually Secrets That Will Be Perfect to You
- Prosecutor failed to show that Musk’s $1M-a-day sweepstakes was an illegal lottery, judge says
- 2025 NFL mock draft: QBs Shedeur Sanders, Cam Ward crack top five
- LSU student arrested over threats to governor who wanted a tiger at college football games
- Agents search home of ex-lieutenant facing scrutiny as police probe leak of school shooting evidence
- Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had a stroke earlier this month, is expected to make full recovery
Recommendation
-
Women suing over Idaho’s abortion ban describe dangerous pregnancies, becoming ‘medical refugees’
-
Bill on school bathroom use by transgender students clears Ohio Legislature, heads to governor
-
Congress is revisiting UFOs: Here's what's happened since last hearing on extraterrestrials
-
Quincy Jones' Cause of Death Revealed
-
Love Is Blind’s Chelsea Blackwell Reacts to Megan Fox’s Baby News
-
NBA players express concern for ex-player Kyle Singler after social media post
-
Women suing over Idaho’s abortion ban describe dangerous pregnancies, becoming ‘medical refugees’
-
Volunteer firefighter accused of setting brush fire on Long Island