CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Former Virginia Rep. Tom Davis is taking the reins of the Republican Main Street Partnership, an organization that preaches a centrist GOP political philosophy and is often at odds with social conservatives.

The former Virginia congressman faces a difficult task in helping to rebuild the GOP, which suffered devastating losses in the Senate and House in the 2008 elections. Davis even watched his own seat, situated in the Washington, DC suburbs of Northern Virginia, turn Democratic. Centrist Republicans also saw a prominent spokesman, Connecticut Rep. Chris Shays, lose his seat in November.

“The 2006 and 2008 election results make it clear that the Republican Party must - once again -– reach out to independent and centrist voters if we are to restore our Congressional majorities and return a Republican to the White House,” Davis said in a statement released by the Republican Main Street Partnership.

“We must get back to the basics and emphasize our commitment to fiscal responsibility, free trade, limited government and good government. If we are going to become the majority party again, we must restore voters’ faith in our ability to govern.”

Davis, who once headed the political arm of House Republicans, now oversees Deloitte’s federal affairs office in Washington.