At the RNC, jockeying begins to replace Ronna McDaniel
LAS VEGAS — As Ronna McDaniel considers whether to step down from as chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, Drew McKissick — who is her co-chair, as well as the chair of the South Carolina GOP — is actively placing phone calls to other RNC members about replacing her if she resigns.
LAS VEGAS — As Ronna McDaniel considers whether to step down from as chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, Drew McKissick — who is her co-chair, as well as the chair of the South Carolina GOP — is actively placing phone calls to other RNC members about replacing her if she resigns.
Three sources familiar with his calls said he is lobbying for support and gauging interest from the RNC’s body of 168 members responsible for formally selecting the party chair.
If McDaniel resigns, “he certainly wants to be the next chair,” said an ally of McKissick, Robin Armstrong, the RNC committeeman from Texas. “He is the chair of the South Carolina party. He’s currently the co-chair [of the RNC]. I think it’d naturally be the next thing for him to step up as chair of the RNC.”
One of the sources said McKissick spoke with former President Donald Trump this week about the prospect of becoming chair. The Trump campaign did not reply to a request for comment.
On Wednesday, a senior adviser to Trump’s campaign posted an article touting the idea of North Carolina GOP Chair Michael Whatley’s replacing McDaniel. A senior Trump adviser also told NBC News that Trump likes Whatley as a potential chair. And one year ago, Trump endorsed Whatley for RNC co-chair.
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