RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel is expected to resign after the South Carolina primary. McDaniel has received criticism recently for insufficiently supporting likely presidential candidate Donald Trump, as well as for a lack of funds plaguing the RNC.
The New York Times reported on a meeting between McDaniel and former President Donald Trump Monday. McDaniel allegedly plans to resign after the South Carolina primary on February 24.
RNC spokesman Keith Schipper said “Nothing has changed – this will be decided after South Carolina,” but sources are convinced that McDaniel will be stepping down.
It seems likely, based on Trump’s comments. While he doesn’t have the power to remove or replace the RNC chair, his opinion holds significant influence. When asked if it’s time for McDaniel to step down, he told Newsmax: “I think she knows that, I think she understands that.”
BREAKING: Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel has talked with Donald Trump about stepping down from her role as head of the GOP's political machine.https://t.co/WG3HB0ENn7 pic.twitter.com/r2sbDGsd7z
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) February 7, 2024
“Ronna is now Head of the RNC, and I’ll be making a decision the day after the South Carolina Primary as to my recommendations for RNC Growth,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
While McDaniel has received some disapproval for general losses by republicans in 2022 and 2023, a more compelling argument for her removal is a financial one.
McDaniel’s RNC has reported only $8 million on hand at the end of the most recent fundraising year, a sharp decline from the $14 Million the RNC had started the year with. While McDaniel suggests that there’s nothing unusual about these numbers, the RNC held $20 million at this point in the 2016 election cycle.
The DNC’s cash on hand is currently more than double that of the RNC, which doesn’t make McDaniel look very good. The RNC has previously garnered criticism for spending comparatively more money on unnecessary luxuries than the DNC. The RNC also spent almost double the DNC did on fundraising in 2022, and got little to show for it.
Many analysts expect North Carolina GOP Chairman Michael Whatley to replace Mcdaniel.
While it’s officially yet to be seen whether McDaniel will remain as head of the RNC, all evidence suggests otherwise.
