26 February 2024
Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel will resign from her post on March 8, she said early Monday, as former President Trump looks to shuffle the organization’s leadership as he closes in on the party’s presidential nomination.
“It has been the honor and privilege of my life to serve the Republican National Committee for seven years as Chairwoman to elect Republicans and grow our Party,” McDaniel said in a statement
“I have decided to step aside at our Spring Training on March 8 in Houston to allow our nominee to select a Chair of their choosing,” she continued. “The RNC has historically undergone change once we have a nominee and it has always been my intention to honor that tradition.”
McDaniel’s decision was not unexpected. She had reportedly planned to step down after the South Carolina primary, and Trump has already endorsed his preferred replacement, RNC general counsel Michael Whatley.
RNC co-chair Drew McKissick said in a statement on Monday that he would also resign from his role in March. Trump has endorsed his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, to serve as the next co-chair.
McDaniel on Monday cited the GOP winning back the House in 2022, the creation of an Election Integrity Department and a push for Republicans to vote early as examples of successes during her roughly seven years on the job.
She first became RNC chair with Trump’s backing in 2017, and won reelection four times. But her critics pointed to the lack of electoral success and questioned the party’s spending. Her relationship with Trump was also strained as the former president pushed the RNC to cancel primary debates and back him in the process instead.
Trump has coasted to victory in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, and he is leading in the polls in other upcoming primary states over his lone remaining rival, Nikki Haley. Trump’s campaign has projected he will secure the necessary number of delegates to clinch the Republican nomination no later than March 19, setting up a rematch with President Biden.
Whatley and Lara Trump are expected to be elected as the new chair and co-chair in the coming weeks, with members typically giving the presumptive presidential nominee deference to put their own leadership in place. Top Trump adviser Chris LaCivita is also shifting to the RNC to oversee day-to-day operations.
–Developing