North Carolina Republican Party hires Matt Mercer as Director of Communications

RALEIGH — Today, the North Carolina Republican Party (NCGOP) announced the addition of Matt Mercer as Communications Director, beginning on March 1.

In this role, Mercer will manage and guide the party’s message during the 2024 election cycle.

“Chairman Whatley and I are ecstatic to have someone of Matt’s caliber joining the team this year,” said NCGOP Executive Director Jason Simmons.

“I couldn’t be happier to join the NCGOP at this critical time in our nation’s history,” said Mercer. “In discussions with Chairman Whatley and the party’s leadership, it was the right fit at the right time. This year’s elections are monumental and I’m committed to doing all I can for our candidates from the White House to the governor’s mansion to the legislature and across all 100 counties.” 

Mercer, who served as North State Journal’s editor in chief for the past four years, brings over a decade of experience as one of North Carolina’s most well-known political operatives in addition to his tenure at the newspaper. During his tenure in media, he won multiple N.C. Press Association awards including for his coverage of the 2022 election and holding Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration accountable during the COVID pandemic.

Mercer is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and lives in Raleigh.