“Government has gotten too big, too intrusive, and unelected bureaucrats are having more and more negative impact on all of our lives,” Mullins said.

“But the time comes when retirement is at hand. I’m 77 years old, and it’s time to turn the reins over to someone else.”

In recent years the state GOP has been riven by ideological strife between tea party adherents and its establishment wing. Bill Bolling, who served two terms as lieutenant governor, dropped out of the 2013 Republican campaign for governor after the party’s State Central Committee changed the nominating process from a primary to a convention that benefited then-Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who became the party’s nominee.

In June, Dave Brat stunned U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in the 7th District Republican primary. Brat was elected to Congress from the district on Tuesday.

Without any statewide officeholder as the face of the party, the state GOP also has struggled at times to compete financially with the state Democratic Party, led by Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who made his reputation as his national party’s foremost fundraiser.

Mullins, who lives in Louisa County, said he will resign the chairmanship effective upon the election of a new party chairman.

He said he will set a meeting of the Republican Party State Central Committee for Jan. 31, which will give anyone interested time to campaign for the position.