The chairman of the Kansas Democratic Party has resigned amid a backlash over comments he made about the party’s message.

The party’s executive director, Kerry Gooch, confirmed to The Wichita Eagle that Larry Meeker resigned Friday shortly before the party’s annual convention in Wichita.

Meeker has been chairman since March. On Wednesday, he said the Kansas Democratic party should be “rebranded” to differentiate it from the national Democratic party. He said Kansas Democrats are fiscal conservatives and the party should include people who disagree on its stand on such issues as abortion rights and same-sex marriage.

His comments drew criticism from several Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley. Hensley said Friday that he believed Meeker made the right decision in resigning.