Beleaguered Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel is likely to step down if 2024 GOP front-runner Donald Trump says the words as the party grapples with lackluster fundraising numbers, insiders told The Post.
Speculation that McDaniel was ready to leave the seat increased Tuesday night after the New York Times reported he planned to resign following the February 24 South Carolina primary, where Trump is expected to score another landslide victory over challenger Nikki Haley.
RNC sources insisted the report was inaccurate, but acknowledged McDaniel, 50, will be in the spotlight after the first contest in the South.
“That’s right Ronna [at Mar-a-Lago with Trump on Monday]. And look, often when we have a nominee, he’ll go to the nominee and say, ‘How can we help? We’re here for you, and if you don’t want me here, that’s fine too,’” one committee member said.
Ronna McDaniel has chaired the Republican National Committee since 2017. AP
“Honestly,” added one RNC staffer, “he’s probably tired of being interrupted and he’s already said he’s done after this cycle.”
McDaniel’s performance came under scrutiny after the GOP lost the House in 2018, the White House and the Senate in 2020, and barely regained the House while failing to recapture the Senate in 2022. He was re-elected to a fourth term in January 2023, only to see the party end the year with just $8 million in cash on hand, the lowest fourth-quarter figure in nine years.
“Even though he won the seat race,” the worker added, “it’s been a year that outsiders have been calling for him to step down, blocking the RNC’s initiative — and even some of these outsiders have asked the public. to stop donating to the committee.”
Donald Trump and Ronna McDaniel at a fundraiser in December 2017. AP
“We’re coming off a divisive election last year,” the committee member added, referring to a challenge to McDaniel by former Trump campaign legal counsel Harmeet Dhillon.
“There are two thirds [to] one-third of the vote, and of the one-third, I’d say half of them continue to incite relentlessly against the RNC.”
Among the membership, McDaniel has broad support, but there is a growing awareness that change may be best for all involved, the source added.
“There’s a lot of support for Ronna, but there’s also comfort with the idea that, if the president wins big in South Carolina and says he wants to go in a different direction, members of the RNC should work with our nominee to help implement change,” the committee member added.
Donald Trump is the frontrunner to become the Republican nominee in 2024. AP
The 77-year-old former president personally endorsed McDaniel for a fourth term, sending some of his top lieutenants to lobby RNC members who voted on his behalf — but the conduct of the 2024 party primary has left a bad taste in his mouth.
“I don’t think it’s a secret that the Trump team doesn’t want the RNC to have an open primary debate and process,” the insider said. “But RNC members want candidates to compete on a level playing field, so he’s taking one for the team.”
McDaniel responded to the Times report in an email Wednesday to RNC members, writing: “Nothing has changed and there won’t be any changes decided until after South Carolina, when we may have a final nominee,” a source familiar with the message said. . Position.
Not everyone will be sorry to see the back of McDaniel, who replaced Reince Priebus as RNC chairman in 2017 after he was tapped by Trump’s first White House chief of staff.
McDaniel arrives on stage before Kevin McCarthy addresses the 2022. AP
Meanwhile, the New Jersey Republican National Committeeman — who has been vocal in his opposition to McDaniel — said many members of the RNC shared his sentiment that he should step down.
“Many of my fellow RNC members share the view that we’ve lost too long,” New Jersey committeeman Bill Palatucci told The Post, “and so we need to do something different now.”
Several names have been floated as possible replacements for McDaniel, with Trump poised to recommend North Carolina GOP Chairman Michael Whatley, Fox News reported Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Drew McKissick, chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party, is the choice of some conservatives to get the endorsement, Arizona RNC member Tyler Bowyer said to X.
A New Jersey National Committeeman said many members of the RNC share the sentiment that he should step down. AP
McKissick did not immediately respond to inquiries from The Post, but a well-connected South Carolina official said they would not be “surprised” if McKissick sought the job.
“He is very close to Trump. He was in the trenches and knew people,” the person said.
Bowyer also suggested Dhillon, RNC Treasurer KC Crosbie, or Delaware Republican Party Chairwoman Julianne Murray as candidates to co-chair the party.
“I highly recommend the other two!” Dhillon replied.
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