The Republican National Committee (RNC) formally voted in its new chair for this term, but it’s a face not unfamiliar with the job.
According to Breitbart, Ronna McDaniel was able to secure her fourth term as RNC chair, which comes at a time when growing opposition on the right believed it was time for new blood in the top leadership spot for the Republican Party.
McDaniel will lead the party through the next big election in 2024.
She claimed a fairly decisive victory margin of 111-51-4-1.
The results
Popular conservative attorney Harmeet Dhillon was pushed hard in some circles to replace McDaniel, who was essentially handpicked in 2017 by former President Donald Trump.
RNC Chair Election First Ballot Results:
167 votes cast. 84 needed to win.
Ronna McDaniel – 111
Harmeet Dhillon – 51
Mike Lindell – 4
Lee Zeldin – 1Ronna McDaniel reelected RNC Chair.
Watch LIVE on C-SPAN2 https://t.co/uYWdF9rUK2
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 27, 2023
Dhillion managed to snag 51 votes, but came up well short of ousting the incumbent McDaniel.
MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, a staunch Pro-Trump activist, managed to pick up four votes, while Republican Lee Zeldin snagged a single vote.
Breitbart noted: “A race that many thought was an inevitable win for McDaniel, her path to victory was not without challenges, as she faced off with lawyer and Republican National Committeewoman Harmeet Dhillon who was able to pull voting members away from McDaniel and rack up endorsements from prominent donors, politician, and conservative activists.”
As far as Trump’s take on McDaniel and Dhillion, who are both supporters, he told Breitbart, “I like them both.”
Some not happy
Other high-profile conservative influencers were less than thrilled over McDaniel’s win, who many believe started with the right idea and then flew far too close to the Washington D.C. swamp for too long.
“Ronna McDaniel wins re-election to an unprecedented fourth term chairing the Republican National Committee.”
It’s a wrap for me. Not another DIME.
— AMABLACKPATRIOT (@DrShayPhD) January 27, 2023
And this is exactly why I will never donate $1 to the RNC. I’d rather buy a lottery ticket. At least I’d have a chance of winning something.
— Dan Fitzpatrick (@DanFitzpatrick) January 27, 2023
Only time will tell if McDaniel has what it takes to lead Republicans to what will easily be one of the most important presidential elections in U.S. history in 2024.