Ronna McDaniel, the Republican National Committee (RNC) chairwoman, may be stepping down from her role this spring, according to multiple reports.
She is said to have been at odds with Donald Trump, and had met with him on Monday at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida to discuss her possible resignation.
The former president, who is seeking the GOP presidential nomination again in 2024, has said he expects “changes” at the RNC and has criticized McDaniel’s performance and fundraising capabilities.
He has expressed dissatisfaction with the RNC’s decision to hold primary debates, which he refused to participate in, and has urged the committee to focus more on voter integrity issues and challenging the results of the 2020 election, which he falsely claims was rigged.
Trump allies have also raised concerns about the RNC’s fundraising, which has lagged behind the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in recent months. The RNC reported having $87.2 million in cash on hand at the end of December, compared to the DNC’s $119 million. Trump has also accused the RNC of mismanaging donations and not giving him enough credit for his role in raising money for the party.
If Ronna McDaniel resigns, her replacement would need to win the support of a majority of the 168 members of the RNC, who are elected by state and territorial parties. The election would likely take place at a special meeting of the RNC, which could be held as soon as March or April.
The new chair would then face the task of rebuilding the party’s finances, infrastructure, and unity ahead of the 2024 election cycle, which is expected to be highly competitive and contentious.
