The tea party has taken leadership of the Republican Party in Warren County.
Tea party candidates were elected as chairs of the executive and central committees of the party Tuesday night, the same day Rep. Eric Cantor, the House majority leader, was defeated by a tea party opponent.
"I think it's indicative of what we are seeing across the nation," said County Commissioner Pat South, a long-time party official in Warren County.
The election ousted Lori Viars, a leader of a conservative caucus that had helped oust moderate Republican leadership in the county party about a decade ago.
Party officials are waiting to see if the new chairman, Ray Warrick, seeks to remove an endorsement of Gov. John Kasich, heading into the November election.