Ronna McDaniel, the Chairwoman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), has announced she will resign from her position on March 8. This move comes as former President Donald Trump makes strides toward securing the Republican presidential nomination and seeks to reorganize the party’s leadership. McDaniel, who has led the RNC for seven years, expressed her decision as an effort to allow the forthcoming nominee to appoint a new chair, aligning with the RNC’s tradition of leadership transition post-nomination.
Trump has shown support for RNC general counsel Michael Whatley as McDaniel’s successor, while RNC co-chair Drew McKissick also revealed plans to step down, endorsing Lara Trump, Trump’s daughter-in-law, as the next co-chair. McDaniel highlighted several achievements during her tenure, including the GOP’s reclaiming of the House in 2022 and the establishment of an Election Integrity Department.
Despite securing four reelections as chair since her initial appointment in 2017 with Trump’s backing, McDaniel faced criticism over electoral performances and the party’s financial decisions. Trump’s influence over the RNC has been evident, pushing for primary debate cancellations and seeking the committee’s outright support.