John Gale, is from North Platte, Nebraska, and has served as the 26th Secretary of State of Nebraska since 2000, he is a member of the Republican Party, commonly referred to as the GOP, an abbreviation for what, is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States? 
John A. Gale:  He is a member of the Republican Party. Republican Party (United States): The Republican Party, commonly referred to as the GOP (abbreviation for Grand Old Party), is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, the other being its historic rival, the Democratic Party.
Grand Old Party