Ronna McDaniel announced she will officially step down as Republican National Committee chairperson on March 8, three days after Super Tuesday.
The anticipated decision comes after former President Donald Trump endorsed a new slate of candidates, including his daughter-in-law, to led the RNC.
As NBC News reports:
McDaniel's decision followed Saturday's South Carolina primary and came less than two weeks after Trump endorsed North Carolina GOP chairman Michael Whatley to be the next chairman of the RNC, his daughter-in-law Lara Trump to be co-chair and top campaign aide Chris LaCivita to be the party's chief operating officer.
McDaniel's decision was first reported by The New York Times.
“The RNC has historically undergone change once we have a nominee and it has always been my intention to honor that tradition,” McDaniel announced. “I remain committed to winning back the White House and electing Republicans up and down the ballot in November.”
McDaniel described the opportunity to lead GOP for seven years as an “honor and privilege.”
“Some of my proudest accomplishments include firing Nancy Pelosi, winning the popular vote in 2022, creating an Election Integrity Department, building the committee's first small dollar grassroots donor program, strengthening our state parties through our Growing Republican Organizations to Win program, expanding the Party through minority outreach at our community centers, and launching Bank Your Vote to get Republicans to commit to voting early,” she added.
NBC continues, noting Trump handpicked McDaniel to lead the RNC in 2017 following her efforts to help deliver Michigan's 16 electoral votes:
Trump told Fox News this month that “some changes” were likely at the RNC when he was asked about McDaniel's performance.
“I think she did great when she ran Michigan for me. I think she did OK initially in the RNC,” Trump said in the interview. “I would say right now there'll probably be some changes made.”
Scrutiny of McDaniel's leadership at the RNC ramped up among party activists after the midterm elections in 2022, when Republicans lost several critical Senate and governors' races. Grassroots activists and conservative influencers upset with McDaniel's leadership coalesced around Dhillon's effort to unseat her. But McDaniel offered a show of force ahead of the party's winter meetings last year, unveiling a list of more than 100 RNC members who backed her for another term, and she easily defeated the challenge.
However, criticism over lackluster fundraising and a perceived lack of grassroots voter outreach has proved fatal ahead of a crucial general election.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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