RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - Veteran conservative activist Dallas Woodhouse has been chosen to lead the daily operations of the North Carolina Republican Party.

The Central Committee of the party voted Woodhouse into the post this weekend. He joins Chairman Hasan Harnett as the leadership at party headquarters.

The Jonesandblout.com blog reports that Woodhouse has the support of key Republican leaders, including Gov. Pat McCrory, Senate Leader Phil Berger, and House Speaker Tim Moore.

Woodhouse formerly led the North Carolina chapter of Americans for Prosperity and is currently head of Carolina Rising. He is known for being a dogged and outspoken defender of conservative policies.

Woodhouse begins his tenure at a key time for Republicans: a presidential election year. Gov. McCrory is up for re-election, as is Sen. Richard Burr. All U.S. congressional seats and all General Assembly seats will also be on the November 2016 ballot.

North Carolina's primaries have been moved up from May to March 15.