The West Virginia Republican Executive Committee elected a strong advocate this past weekend when it overwhelmingly chose Wheeling attorney Elgine McArdle as its new chairwoman.

McArdle, current chairwoman of the Ohio County Republican Executive Committee, will serve a four-year term leading the state party.

McArdle comes in as Republicans in West Virginia hold a majority in statewide voter registration for the first time since the 1930s.

The party also has supermajorities in the state House of Delegates and the state Senate, has control of all statewide constitutional offices, holds all three seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and one of two seats in the Senate.

Democrats had similar control in West Virginia for decades, and McArdle said she has no plans to allow that to happen to the GOP.

“Republicans now outnumber Democrats for the first time,” McArdle said, before quoting legendary women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt. “With this growth comes responsibility. Responsibility equals accountability, accountability equals ownership. And a sense of ownership is the most powerful weapon a team or an organization can have.”

One of her first tasks will be leading the GOP through the Nov. 8 general election. After that, she said the party’s top priority will be the seat currently held by U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, the Democrats lone office holder at the federal level.

“Our party stands at a crossroad,” McArdle said in her nomination speech. “Republicans now hold both the statehouse … and all statewide constitutional offices, all congressional seats, and one of the two United States Senate seats. But we will soon fix that.”

West Virginia Democrats have a challenging task ahead in regaining seats in West Virginia, as McArdle will look to build on GOP control.

The coming 18 months will be interesting.