BREAKING: Ronna McDaniel Officially Announces Resignation

After seven years, Ronna McDaniel’s time leading the Republican National Committee finally has an end in sight.

The chairwoman announced she will be resigning from office on March 8th, keeping with her promise to resign after Sunday’s South Carolina Republican primary. Her stepping down is timed to allow the party’s presidential nominee, all but certain to be former President Donald Trump, to handpick her successor.

“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,” McDaniel wrote in a statement reported by the Daily Caller. “The RNC has historically undergone change once we have a nominee and it has always been my intention to honor that tradition.”

While McDaniel’s resignation wasn’t on her terms, she pointed to progress made under her tenure to keep the U.S. House under Republican control, increase mail-in ballot participation among Republican voters, and expanding the GOP’s efforts to keep elections secure.

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“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, strengthening our state parties through our Growing Republican Organizations to Win program, expanding the Party through minority outreach at our community centers, and launching Bank Your Vote to get Republicans to commit to voting early,” McDaniel said.

Drew McKissick, a top deputy to McDaniel and chair of the South Carolina Republican Party, announced he would be departing from the number two spot he has held since January of 2023.

“Willing to put self aside for the sake of building a team and focusing on winning is a big part of being successful. With that in mind, I’m submitting my resignation as Co-Chair, effective upon the election of my successor at the upcoming Spring Training in Houston,” said McKissick.

The looming change in RNC leadership became widely known after McDaniel sojourned to Mar-a-Lago for a private meeting with President Trump where sources said he indicated a desire for change, especially after three straight years of anemic fundraising efforts by the GOP. His preferred successor, North Carolina GOP chairman Michael Whately, appears on a glide path to the top post.

Should the 168-member body select Whatley, it will further ensconce the Republican Party in Trump’s grip, leaving no daylight between his campaign and loyalists tasked with integrating the party’s infrastructure with his own. Nikki Haley, the only other presidential candidate in the race, lost her home state of South Carolina in a rout on Saturday. Without a neutral GOP to fall back on, Haley’s time in the race may be short.