RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel to Step Down on March 8, Allowing Donald Trump to Appoint New Allies

Ronna McDaniel, the Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair, has announced that she will step down from her position on March 8. This decision comes as no surprise, as Donald Trump, the former president and likely GOP presidential nominee, has been asserting control over the party and has expressed his preference for new allies in leadership positions.

In her statement, McDaniel explained that she is stepping aside to allow the nominee to select a Chair of their choosing, as this has been the tradition of the RNC. Trump has already indicated his preference for Michael Whatley, the North Carolina GOP Chair, to replace McDaniel. Additionally, he has chosen his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, to serve as committee co-chair.

McDaniel has been a strong advocate for Trump and played a significant role in reshaping the GOP to align with his image. However, she has faced criticism from Trump’s MAGA movement for the party’s failures in the 2020 election and recent races. As Trump’s grip on the party tightens, his allies are seeking to direct resources and activists towards his campaign.

The leadership shakeup within the RNC comes as the GOP transitions from the primary phase to the general election of the 2024 presidential contest. While former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley has remained in the race, Trump has won every state in the primary calendar and could secure the Republican nomination by mid-March.

It is important to note that Trump cannot make leadership changes without the formal backing of the RNC’s governing body, which consists of 168 members. However, given Trump’s likely presidential nomination and popularity among party activists, McDaniel had little choice but to comply with his wishes. It is expected that RNC members will approve Trump’s decision in March.

McDaniel has been the longest-serving leader of the RNC since the Civil War. Her appointment as chair was a hand-picked choice by Trump shortly after the 2016 election. Her profile as a suburban mother was seen as an asset for the party in appealing to suburban women during the Trump era.

Despite easily winning reelection as party chair a year ago, McDaniel is now facing increasing criticism from opponents within the “Make America Great Again” movement. The party is also struggling to raise funds, with the RNC reporting $8.7 million in the bank at the beginning of February compared to the Democratic National Committee’s $24 million.

As Trump tightens his grip on a potential third presidential nomination, his allies are seeking to shape the party’s resources and activists around his campaign. Lara Trump has suggested that GOP voters would likely want the RNC to cover her father-in-law’s legal bills, citing the 91 felony counts against him as an example of political persecution. However, it remains uncertain whether the RNC members will agree to this.

Trump’s preference for allies who echo his false theories of voter fraud is another key reason behind the selection of Michael Whatley as a potential replacement for McDaniel. Whatley, who currently serves as the North Carolina GOP chair and general counsel to the RNC, has claimed credit for hiring an army of lawyers ahead of the 2020 election to combat alleged voter fraud. Multiple investigations and court cases have found no evidence of widespread voter fraud.

Whatley also has strong connections to the political establishment, with experience as an oil and gas lobbyist and links to figures like George W. Bush and former Sen. Elizabeth Dole.

In conclusion, Ronna McDaniel’s decision to step down as RNC Chair on March 8 allows Donald Trump to appoint new allies and assert control over the party as he moves closer to another presidential nomination. This leadership shakeup comes at a crucial time as the GOP transitions into the general election phase of the 2024 presidential contest. The selection of Michael Whatley and Lara Trump as potential replacements reflects Trump’s desire to have allies who mirror his beliefs and theories. However, it remains to be seen how these changes will be received by the RNC’s governing body and the party as a whole.