LAS VEGAS (AP) — Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul have seized control of the Clark County Republican Party’s ruling body.

Paul backers won election to 14 of the county GOP’s 21 executive board positions, or two-thirds of the body, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. The county around Las Vegas is the state’s most populous.

In other voting Saturday at the county GOP convention in Las Vegas, Paul supporters won as many as half of the 1,382 delegates nominated to the state convention scheduled May 2-4 in Sparks.

“This is the grassroots taking a stand to change the direction of the party from the county level,” said delegate Carl Bunce, Nevada chairman of Paul’s campaign. “This is bigger than just Ron Paul. This is about liberty and openness and fairness and changing the party.”

While Paul supporters say they share the GOP goal of defeating President Barack Obama, the Paul factor could complicate matters at the state convention.

Four years ago, GOP leaders who supported then-presidential candidate John McCain abruptly shut down the state convention when it appeared Paul would take most of Nevada’s delegates to the national convention.