on 15 october 2014, andrew stoner stood down as nationals leader and deputy premier, citing family reasons. on 16 october grant was elected party leader and the following day he was sworn in as deputy premier of new south wales, assuming the majority of stoner's former ministerial responsibilities. following a period of leadership speculation which came to a head on 12 november 2016 after the nationals' poor performance at the orange state by-election, on 14 november, grant, facing a leadership spill, announced his resignation as nationals leader and deputy premier, effective the following day.