Ron Paul's Iowa co -chairman A.J. Spiker is the new chairman of the Iowa Republican Party.

The position had been vacated with the resignation of Matt Strawn.

Spiker, a former Story County GOP chairman and the 4 th Congressional District state central committee member, was elected to fill the remainder of Strawn's term, which expires in January 2013.

"I am honored to be elected by my colleagues on the committee and look forward to serving as chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa," Spiker said, according to statement provided by the Republican Party of Iowa.