Looks like the Republican National Committee members who predicted last week an early-March leadership shake-up were on the nose. Hours after outgoing RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel announced Monday morning that she will resign from the RNC on March 8, members received an email from the national party’s counsel office this afternoon that RNC officer elections will be conducted during a formal meeting that same day.
McDaniel’s resignation comes amid a pressure campaign from former president Donald Trump and his allies over frustrations with fundraising and other factors. Trump has endorsed RNC general counsel and North Carolina GOP chairman Michael Whatley to succeed McDaniel, and his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, to serve as co-chairwoman. RNC co-chairman Drew McKissick also will resign from his post, he said in a statement on Monday.
The former president also has thrown his support behind his own senior campaign strategist, Chris LaCivita, to serve as chief operating officer for the national GOP.
It’s unclear as of this week whether any of those RNC officer races will be bitterly contested, though any other would-be candidates must be nominated by March 7.
“In accordance with the RNC Rules, an election to fill a vacancy in the office of Chairman, and in the office of Co-Chairman if necessary pursuant to Rule No. Sa (1), will be held during the General Session of this meeting,” the RNC counsel’s office wrote to its members, according to a copy of an email memo obtained by National Review. “To have one’s name officially placed into nomination, an individual must be nominated from the floor and have the support of the majority of RNC Members from each of at least three (3) states. RNC Rule No. S(b). Written evidence of this support must be submitted to the RNC Secretary by the designated time, which shall be 5:00 p.m. CST on Thursday, March 7, 2024.”