RNC Chair to Step Down After South Carolina Primary

(ConservativeInsider.org) – The Chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, Ronna McDaniel, told former President Donald Trump that she plans to step down from her position after the South Carolina primary on February 24th.

Trump shared on Truth Social, his social media platform, that he would make his decision the day after the primary in South Carolina. According to sources that spoke to the Associated Press, Trump is expected to support Michael Whatley, the Republican Party Chairman of North Carolina. However, CNN reports that Drew McKissick, the Republican Party Chairman of South Carolina is also a potential candidate, as is Joe Gruters, a Florida State Senator.

McDaniel has been the RNC Chairwoman since 2017, winning her fourth term in the position just a month ago. She is one of the longest-serving chairs of the RNC in decades and was elected after serving as the Michigan Republican Party’s chairwoman. In a private meeting with Trump, McDaniel said she was willing to do what’s best for the party.

But there have been complaints about McDaniels from several within the party for the last year. According to FEC reports, the RNC came into 2024 with only $8 million in its coffers, which is the lowest amount on hand for the party since 2014. 2023 was the worst year for RNC fundraising since then.

Trump, while initially a supporter of McDaniel, has taken a step back from supporting her. While not outright criticizing her, Trump said it’s time for “some changes” to be made in terms of RNC leadership. When asked if it was time for McDaniel to abdicate her position in a recent interview with Newsmax, Trump said he thinks “she understands that.” He did offer praise for her work in Michigan.

Back in November, Vivek Ramaswamy, who was a candidate at the time, launched a petition to remove McDaniel from her position after calling on her to step down during the Miami Republican primary debate. Ramaswamy called her a “cancer in the Republican establishment.”