A contentious Republican Party leadership battle in Warren County, Virginia, has been overturned following an appeal challenging the results of a disputed committee election, according to reports.
The controversy centers on the Warren County Republican Committee and an election held during a mass meeting in February. Former Trump administration official Scott Lloyd, who had sought the committee chairmanship, appealed the results to the Virginia Sixth District Republican Committee.
About two dozen members of the district committee gathered in Fisherville on Tuesday to consider Lloyd’s appeal, Breitbart News reported.
The dispute has exposed deep divisions among local Republicans and raised allegations about the conduct of the February 12 meeting at the Front Royal Volunteer Fire Department.
According to affidavits included in Lloyd’s appeal, some attendees alleged that the voting process was disorganized and that individuals who were not eligible to participate may have received ballots. Other conservatives claimed they were denied entry and therefore prevented from casting votes.
The meeting also involved a controversial restructuring of the county committee. Members were reportedly told that the organization would be reduced from 251 members to 102, despite approximately 180 membership applications being submitted.
The handling of those applications has become another major point of contention. Sources cited by Breitbart alleged that local officials aligned with one of the candidates were involved in reviewing or processing applications used to determine committee membership.
Questions were also raised over access to the meeting. More than 400 people reportedly attended, creating significant crowd-control challenges. Some individuals allegedly were turned away after the meeting began, while others said they were not informed beforehand that arriving after 7 p.m. could prevent them from registering and voting.
One attendee additionally alleged that Sheriff Crystal Cline pushed her while she attempted to enter the meeting. The allegation has not been independently established.
The controversy has highlighted broader ideological tensions within the Warren County Republican organization, with supporters of the competing factions accusing one another of attempting to influence the committee’s direction.
The Sixth District committee’s decision to overturn the disputed election now leaves the leadership contest unresolved.
If an appeal is filed within 30 days, the matter will reportedly move to a special five-member Republican Party of Virginia panel. Two members would be selected by Lloyd, two by his opponent, and a fifth would be chosen jointly.
The dispute is expected to keep Warren County Republicans divided as the party determines its next leadership structure.
