Ed Martin stepping down as chairman for Missouri GOP

Missouri Republican Party chairman Ed Martin announced Monday he will soon leave the position and serve as president of the Eagle Forum, a conservative, pro-family organization founded by Phyllis Schlafly.

Martin was elected chairman in 2013 and will not seek re-election at the party's Reagan Lincoln Days meeting Feb. 20 in Kansas City, according to a news release from the Missouri Republican Party.

In a written release issued Monday, Martin said he's spent the past two years working on various projects with Schlafly, whom he called a "legendary conservative activist." Though he's leaving his position within the Missouri GOP, Martin said he still plans to be an advocate for the group.

"This announcement does not mean I am leaving our party; quite the contrary. I will remain involved to help grow our party and assure we bring accountability and responsibility to statewide office in Missouri, as well as the White House," he said in the news release.