FRANKFORT — The Republican Party of Kentucky has a new chairman, J. McCauley “Mac” Brown, the vice-president of Brown-Forman who is also heading up Republican governor-elect Matt Bevin’s transition team.

Bevin’s inauguration committee will also be co-chaired by Republican power couple Joe Craft and Kelly Knight. Knight, a major Republican fundraiser originally from Glasgow, confirmed she and Craft, who owns Alliance Resources, a major coal and energy company, will head up the effort.

Brown succeeds Steve Robertson who held the position for eight years during a time when Republicans gained political ascendancy in the once solid Democratic Kentucky. Robertson announced several months ago he was leaving after the Nov. 3 election.

“I am humbled by the vote of confidence from Republican leaders from around the state and I accept this opportunity to lead the Republican Party of Kentucky,” Brown said in a statement released by RPK.

“The party is unified and prepared to move our state forward,” Brown continued. “In 2016, we will do our part to elect a Republican president, support Sen. (Rand) Paul, and take our last bastion of liberalism — the Kentucky state House — and turn it red.”

Republicans have set their sights on taking control of the last Democratic base of power in Kentucky, the state House, in 2016. The Democratic House is all that stands between Bevin and enactment of his agenda, including right to work laws which Democrats vigorously oppose.

Brown’s election as party chairman was hailed by several party leaders, including U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell for whom the building where RPK is headquartered is named and who meticulously built that party over a quarter of century into the state’s dominant party.

“Mac has been an exceptional and talented business leader in our state for many years, and we are fortunate to now have him put those skills to work on behalf of our party,” McConnell said.

McConnell also thanked Robertson for his time leading the party and helping Republicans “win election after election.”

Robertson said it’s been a privilege to serve as RPK chairman and watch the party grow.

“Over the past eight years, the party has placed great emphasis on developing its infrastructure and organizational depth which laid the foundation for the historic wins we saw on election night,” Robertson said.

Republicans not only elected one of their own governor on Nov. 3 — for just the third time in 40 years — but they won four of the six constitutional offices: governor, auditor, treasurer and commissioner of agriculture.

Paul and state legislative leaders Sen. Robert Stivers and Rep. Jeff Hoover also praised Brown’s selection.

RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.