DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The chairman of Iowa’s Republican Party will step down later this month once a replacement can be chosen. The Iowa GOP said Saturday that A.J. Spiker had submitted his letter of resignation. The party will chose a new chairman on March 29.

Spiker plans to become a political adviser to U.S. Sen. Rand Paul’s political action committee. Rand Paul is a potential 2016 presidential candidate, and Spiker had previously backed Paul’s father, former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul. Spiker became chairman in 2012 after tea party conservatives and Paul supporters worked at the precinct level to take control of the state GOP leadership.

On Saturday most of the GOP state convention delegates chosen were moderate candidates who back Gov. Terry Branstad.