Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), announced on Monday her decision to step down on March 8, days after Super Tuesday, to pave way for the new Republican presidential nominee to select the chairperson of their choice.
The announcement comes after former President Donald Trump, the likely Republican nominee, endorsed a new slate of leaders to guide the party.
Trump's endorsements include Michael Whatley for the position of RNC chairman, Lara Trump as co-chair, and Chris LaCivita as the party's chief operating officer. McDaniel, who was hand-picked by Trump in 2016, has been at the helm for seven years, overseeing various accomplishments within the party.
McDaniel's departure coincides with the RNC's spring meeting, setting the stage for a transition in leadership as the party prepares for the upcoming Super Tuesday Republican nominating contests on March 5.
"I have decided to step aside at our spring training on March 8 in Houston to allow our nominee to select a chair of their choosing. The RNC has historically undergone change once we have a nominee, and it has always been my intention to honor that tradition," McDaniel stated in her announcement, as per NBC.
In a statement, McDaniel expressed her gratitude for serving as chairwoman for seven years, citing various accomplishments during her tenure.
"Some of my proudest accomplishments include firing Nancy Pelosi, winning the popular vote in 2022, creating an Election Integrity Department, building the committee's first small dollar grassroots donor program, and launching Bank Your Vote to get Republicans to commit to voting early," she stated.
Trump's endorsement of new leadership comes after the RNC faced scrutiny for financial challenges and grassroots efforts. Critics focused on McDaniel's handling of party finances, pointing to a cash crunch revealed in the latest disclosure with the Federal Election Commission. The RNC reported having less than half as much money in the bank as the Democratic National Committee at the end of 2023.
Despite challenges, McDaniel, the second woman to lead the RNC, was re-elected to a fourth term in January 2023, defeating challenger Harmeet Dhillon. The criticism escalated after the 2022 midterm elections when Republicans experienced losses in critical Senate and governor's races.
McDaniel further said she remains committed to the party's goals, stating, "I remain committed to winning back the White House and electing Republicans up and down the ballot in November."
Earlier this month, Trump hinted at the possibility of changes to the RNC.
In response to a question on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" about how McDaniel was performing, Trump said "I think she did great when she ran Michigan for me, I think she did OK initially in the RNC. I would say right now there will probably be some changes made."
