the organization has had a sometimes contentious relationship with religious conservatives. when ken eikenberry, the chairman of the washington state republican party, was challenged for the party's leadership in 1994 by the head of the christian coalition in washington, mainstream republicans president mark gardner warned that religious conservatives were trying to gain control of the party's money and influence. the group cautioned that, while they would ultimately be willing to back most republican candidates, they might also campaign against those they found too extreme.