Misplaced Pages

Ronna McDaniel: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 04:49, 16 January 2020 editThenightaway (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users51,947 edits Undid revision 936008193 by SunCrow (talk) restore long-standing content. obviously due that the RNC chairwoman is pressuring candidates to falsely suggest wrong-doing and election fraud if they are losingTag: Undo← Previous edit Latest revision as of 15:04, 11 November 2024 edit undoPemilligan (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users27,795 edits Undid revision 1256751664 by 2601:8C3:8578:AF40:7130:5C92:76C7:D7F0 (talk)Tags: Undo Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit 
(709 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|American political strategist (born 1973)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder {{Infobox officeholder
|name = Ronna Romney McDaniel |name = Ronna McDaniel
|image = Ronna McDaniel.jpg |image = Ronna McDaniel.jpg
|caption = McDaniel in 2018
|office = Chair of the ]
|office = Chair of the ]
|term_start = January 19, 2017
|term_end = |term_start = January 19, 2017
|term_end = March 8, 2024
|predecessor = ]
|predecessor = ]
|successor =
|office1 = Chair of the ] |successor = ]
|office1 = Chair of the ]
|term_start1 = February 21, 2015
|term_end1 = January 19, 2017 |term_start1 = February 21, 2015
|term_end1 = January 19, 2017
|predecessor1 = ]
|successor1 = ] |predecessor1 = ]
|successor1 = ]
|birth_name = Ronna Romney
|birth_name = Ronna Romney
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|3|20}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|3|20}}
|birth_place = ], U.S.
|birth_place = ], U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place = |death_date =
|party = ] |death_place =
|party = ]
|spouse = Patrick McDaniel |spouse = Patrick McDaniel
|children = 2 |children = 2
|parents = ] (father)<br />] (mother) |relatives = ] (mother)<br>] (uncle)<br>''See ]''
|education = ] (])
|relatives = ''See ]''
|education = ] (])
}} }}
'''Ronna Romney McDaniel''' (born March 20, 1973) is an American political operative who is the Chair of the ] (RNC) and former Chair of the ]. McDaniel is a granddaughter of two and a half-term ] Governor and businessman ] and niece of Senator ]. '''Ronna Romney McDaniel''' ({{née}} '''Romney'''; born March 20, 1973) is an American political strategist who served as chair of the ] (RNC) from 2017 until her resignation in 2024. A member of the ] and the ], McDaniel was chair of the ] from 2015 to 2017.


During McDaniel's tenure as chair of the RNC, the Republican Party lost eight ], four seats in the ], 20 seats in the ], and the ]. In December 2022, ] wrote that McDaniel "has thus far failed to preside over a single positive election cycle."<ref name="Treene">{{Cite web |last=Treene |first=Alayna |date=December 13, 2022 |title=The RNC's lopsided power struggle |url=https://www.axios.com/2022/12/13/ronna-mcdaniel-rnc-2024 |access-date=January 7, 2023 |website=Axios |language=en |archive-date=January 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107131040/https://www.axios.com/2022/12/13/ronna-mcdaniel-rnc-2024 |url-status=live}}</ref>
As RNC Chair, she has been known for her prolific fundraising and staunch support for ].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Under her leadership, the RNC ran ads for Trump's 2020 campaign as early as 2018, put numerous Trump campaign workers and affiliates on the RNC payroll, spent considerable funds at Trump-owned properties, covered Trump's legal fees in the Russian interference investigation, hosted Trump's ], and criticized Trump critics within the Republican Party.<ref name=":1" />


McDaniel is a granddaughter of ] Governor and businessman ] and a niece of ] Governor and U.S. Senator ] of ]. She is known for her prolific fundraising and staunch support for former President ] while RNC chair.<ref name="Heersink" /><ref name="Peters" /> Under her leadership, the RNC ran ads for ] as early as 2018, placed numerous Trump campaign workers and affiliates on the RNC payroll, spent considerable funds at Trump-owned properties, covered Trump's legal fees during the ], hosted the ], and criticized Trump critics within the Republican Party.<ref name="Heersink" />
==Early life, education, and family==
On March 20,<ref>{{cite web |title=Happy Birthday @GOPChairwoman! |url=https://twitter.com/GOP/status/976115057292693504 |accessdate=March 15, 2019 |date=March 20, 2018}}</ref> 1973, McDaniel was born as Ronna Romney in ]. McDaniel is the third of five children born to ] and ], the older brother of ]. McDaniel is a granddaughter of three-term Michigan Governor ]. Romney's mother ran for the U.S. Senate in 1996 against ], served on the Republican National Committee, and was a delegate to the ]. Romney's grandmother, ], ran for the U.S. Senate in 1970.<ref name="latest" /> McDaniel's said her career in politics was inspired by her family.<ref name="CNN2">{{cite news |last1=Bush |first1=Dana |title=Romney McDaniel: One woman's rise to the top of Republican politics |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/06/22/politics/ronna-romney-mcdaniel-badass-women-of-washington/index.html |accessdate=July 26, 2018 |work=CNN |date=August 9, 2017}}</ref>


McDaniel and the RNC made claims of voter fraud after ]'s ] victory, which Trump refused to concede<ref name="Bloomberg 2020-11-11" /> and ]. In 2022, McDaniel orchestrated a ] of ] and ], the two Republicans who served on the ].<ref name="NYTimes 2022-02-04">{{Cite news|last1=Weisman|first1=Jonathan|last2=Epstein|first2=Reid J.|date=February 4, 2022|title=G.O.P. Declares Jan. 6 Attack 'Legitimate Political Discourse'|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/04/us/politics/republicans-jan-6-cheney-censure.html|access-date=February 4, 2022|archive-date=February 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204192035/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/04/us/politics/republicans-jan-6-cheney-censure.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The censure characterized the violent ] mob as having engaged in "legitimate political discourse".<ref name="NYTimes 2022-02-04" /><ref>{{Cite news|date=February 4, 2022|title=Read the Republican Censure of Cheney and Kinzinger|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/02/04/us/rnc-resolution-censure-cheney-kinziger.html|access-date=February 5, 2022|archive-date=February 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204233735/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/02/04/us/rnc-resolution-censure-cheney-kinziger.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In its fourth public hearing, the House January 6 Committee presented an excerpt of a deposition where McDaniel revealed she had directed the RNC to help organize fake electors for the ]<ref name="Breuninger_6/22/2022">{{Cite web |last=Breuninger |first=Kevin |date=June 22, 2022 |title=Trump had a direct role in plan to install fake electors. Key takeaways from the fourth Jan. 6 hearing |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/22/jan-6-probe-takeaways-trump-had-a-direct-role-in-plan-to-install-fake-electors.html |access-date=July 29, 2022 |website=] |archive-date=June 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622151510/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/22/jan-6-probe-takeaways-trump-had-a-direct-role-in-plan-to-install-fake-electors.html |url-status=live}}</ref>at the request of Trump and ].{{efn|As of August 2023, disbarment proceedings are underway in California against John Eastman. These proceedings have been initiated on the basis of claims that Eastman's conduct showcases "moral turpitude, dishonesty, and corruption". It is also alleged that his actions represent "an egregious and unprecedented attack on our democracy", as stated by George Cardona, the State Bar's chief trial counsel. According to Cardona, Eastman has "violated his duty in an attempt to overturn election results for the highest office in the land".<ref>{{cite news |last=Concepcion |first=Summer |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/ex-trump-lawyer-john-eastman-seeks-postpone-disbarment-proceedings-rcna98728 |title=Ex-Trump lawyer John Eastman seeks to postpone his disbarment proceedings: The request comes after a Trump indictment that referred to six co-conspirators who assisted him in his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, including Eastman. |work=] |date=August 8, 2023 |access-date=August 8, 2023 |archive-date=August 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230808180143/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/ex-trump-lawyer-john-eastman-seeks-postpone-disbarment-proceedings-rcna98728}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Concepcion |first=Summer |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/john-eastman-faces-disbarment-proceedings-california-effort-reverse-20-rcna90127 |title=John Eastman faces disbarment proceedings in California over effort to reverse 2020 election: Eastman, Donald Trump's former lawyer, faces disciplinary charges alleging engagement in a plot to push a far-fetched legal strategy arguing that then-Vice President Mike Pence could overturn Joe Biden's electoral victory. |work=] |date=June 20, 2023 |access-date=August 8, 2023 |archive-date=August 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230808180544/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/john-eastman-faces-disbarment-proceedings-california-effort-reverse-20-rcna90127}}</ref>}}
She attended ] in ].<ref name="latest">{{cite news |first=Carol |last=Cain |url=http://www.freep.com/story/money/business/columnists/carol-cain/2015/08/23/latest-romney-politics-candidate/32049247/ |title=Latest Romney in politics is not a candidate |work=] |date=August 23, 2015 |accessdate=November 14, 2016}}</ref> McDaniel earned an undergraduate degree in English from ].<ref name=patch/><ref name="DN">{{cite news |last1=Burke |first1=Melissa Nann |title=Trump puts GOP chief’s winning streak on line |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/06/ronna-mcdaniel-first-anniversary/110171638/ |accessdate=July 26, 2018 |work=] |date=February 6, 2018}}</ref>


On February 26, 2024, McDaniel announced her resignation as RNC chair on advice from Donald Trump following his victory in the ].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/ronna-mcdaniel-shows-why-nearly-every-alliance-with-trump-eventually-frays-7d3bc55a?mod=hp_lead_pos9|title=Ronna McDaniel Shows Why Nearly Every Alliance With Trump Eventually Frays|date=March 7, 2024|website=The Wall Street Journal|first1=Kristina|last1=Peterson|access-date=March 8, 2024|archive-date=March 8, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308034024/https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/ronna-mcdaniel-shows-why-nearly-every-alliance-with-trump-eventually-frays-7d3bc55a?mod=hp_lead_pos9|url-status=live}}</ref> Her term as chair of the RNC ended March 8.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Allen |date=February 26, 2024 |title=RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel announces her resignation |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/rnc-chair-ronna-mcdaniel-resignation-rcna137347 |access-date=February 26, 2024 |website=] |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226102244/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/rnc-chair-ronna-mcdaniel-resignation-rcna137347 |url-status=live}}</ref> McDaniel served as an ] on-air political contributor for less than a week in March 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-26 |title=NBC has cut ties with former RNC head Ronna McDaniel after employee objections, some on the air |url=https://apnews.com/article/nbc-news-republican-committee-ronna-mcdaniel-483647e9eca547a981002e4179d3b2e5 |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=AP News |language=en |archive-date=March 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327001557/https://apnews.com/article/nbc-news-republican-committee-ronna-mcdaniel-483647e9eca547a981002e4179d3b2e5 |url-status=live }}</ref>
McDaniel and her husband, Patrick McDaniel, have two children.<ref name="latest"/> They live in ].<ref name=patch>{{cite news|url=http://patch.com/michigan/northville/q-a-with-northville-resident-mitt-romney-s-niece|title=Q&A With Northville Resident Ronna Romney McDaniel: Mitt Romney's niece, Ronna Romney McDaniel, spearheaded his campaign in Michigan|first=Nancy|last=Kelsey|work=]|date=March 7, 2012|accessdate=November 14, 2016}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
McDaniel was born Ronna Romney on March 20, 1973,<ref>{{cite tweet |user=GOP |number=976115057292693504 |date=March 20, 2018 |title=Happy Birthday @GOPChairwoman! |access-date=March 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190615053629/https://twitter.com/GOP/status/976115057292693504 |archive-date=June 15, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> in ].{{citation needed|date=June 2022}} The third of five children born to ] and Scott Romney, the older brother of ], McDaniel is a granddaughter of three-term Michigan Governor ]. Her mother ran for the ] in 1996 against ], served on the Republican National Committee, and was a delegate to the ]. Romney's grandmother, ], ran for the U.S. Senate in 1970.<ref name="latest" /> McDaniel has said her career in politics was inspired by her family.<ref name="CNN2">{{cite news |last1=Bush |first1=Dana |title=Romney McDaniel: One woman's rise to the top of Republican politics |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/06/22/politics/ronna-romney-mcdaniel-badass-women-of-washington/index.html |access-date=July 26, 2018 |work=CNN |date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726170010/https://edition.cnn.com/2017/06/22/politics/ronna-romney-mcdaniel-badass-women-of-washington/index.html |archive-date=July 26, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

She attended ] in ],<ref name="latest">{{cite news |first=Carol |last=Cain |url=http://www.freep.com/story/money/business/columnists/carol-cain/2015/08/23/latest-romney-politics-candidate/32049247/ |title=Latest Romney in politics is not a candidate |work=] |date=August 23, 2015 |access-date=November 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115151948/http://www.freep.com/story/money/business/columnists/carol-cain/2015/08/23/latest-romney-politics-candidate/32049247/ |archive-date=November 15, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> and earned an ] in English from ].<ref name="patch">{{cite news|last=Kelsey|first=Nancy|date=March 7, 2012|title=Q&A With Northville Resident Ronna Romney McDaniel: Mitt Romney's niece, Ronna Romney McDaniel, spearheaded his campaign in Michigan|work=]|url=http://patch.com/michigan/northville/q-a-with-northville-resident-mitt-romney-s-niece|url-status=live|access-date=November 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115071537/http://patch.com/michigan/northville/q-a-with-northville-resident-mitt-romney-s-niece|archive-date=November 15, 2016}}</ref><ref name="DN">{{cite news |last1=Burke |first1=Melissa Nann |title=Trump puts GOP chief's winning streak on line |work=] |date=February 6, 2018 |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/06/ronna-mcdaniel-first-anniversary/110171638/ |access-date=July 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212001108/http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/06/ronna-mcdaniel-first-anniversary/110171638/ |archive-date=February 12, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>


==Career== ==Career==
{{expand section|date=March 2024}}
McDaniel worked for SRCP Media as a production manager. She also worked for the production company ] as a business manager and as a manager at the staffing firm Ajilon.<ref name="DFP"/>
McDaniel worked for SRCP Media as a production manager. She also worked for the production company ] as a ] and as a manager at the staffing firm Ajilon.<ref name="DFP" />

McDaniel worked in Michigan for her uncle Mitt's ] for ]. She was elected Michigan's representative to the ] (RNC) in 2014.<ref name="DFP" /> In 2015, McDaniel ran to be chair of the ], receiving support from both the party establishment and ] activists. At the party's convention in February 2015, she defeated Norm Hughes and Kim Shmina, receiving 55% of the vote in the first ballot. She succeeded ] as chair and stepped down from her position at the RNC.<ref name="niece" /><ref name="DFP">{{cite news|last=Egan|first=Paul|url=http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/02/21/michigan-republican-party-convention-chair/23790577/|title=Ronna Romney McDaniel elected Michigan's GOP chair|work=Detroit Free Press|date=February 21, 2015|access-date=November 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115150441/http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/02/21/michigan-republican-party-convention-chair/23790577/|archive-date=November 15, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the ], McDaniel served as a delegate to the ] for ].<ref name="niece">{{cite news|first1=Todd|last1=Spangler|first2=Kathleen|last2=Gray|url=http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2016/07/20/romney-mcdaniel-navigates-being-mitts-niece-trumps-delegate/87293094/|title=Romney McDaniel navigates being Mitt's niece, Trump's delegate|work=Detroit Free Press|date=July 20, 2016|access-date=November 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115150443/http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2016/07/20/romney-mcdaniel-navigates-being-mitts-niece-trumps-delegate/87293094/|archive-date=November 15, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the 2016 presidential election, McDaniel became a candidate to chair the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2016/11/14/trump/93787264/|title=Trump considering Ronna Romney McDaniel for post|work=]|date=November 14, 2016|access-date=November 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114225203/http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2016/11/14/trump/93787264/|archive-date=November 14, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> McDaniel was an early supporter of Donald Trump. McDaniel had activist Wendy Day removed from her party position as grassroots vice-chair due to her refusal to support Trump.<ref name="Guard1" />

=== RNC chair ===
During McDaniel's tenure as chair of the RNC, the Republican Party had a net loss of seven ], three seats in the ], 19 seats in the ], and the ]. In December 2022, ] wrote that McDaniel "has thus far failed to preside over a single positive election cycle."<ref name="Treene" />

On February 6, 2024, '']'' reported that McDaniel intends to resign after the ], following dissatisfaction from Trump, who has publicly supported ] chair ].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/06/us/politics/ronna-mcdaniel-rnc-trump.html |title=Ronna McDaniel, R.N.C. Chairwoman, Plans to Step Down |date=February 6, 2024 |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |last2=Goldmacher |first2=Shane |last3=Swan |first3=Jonathan |last4=Karni |first4=Annie |author-link1=Maggie Haberman |author-link2=Jonathan Swan |work=] |access-date=February 6, 2024 |archive-date=February 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207004830/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/06/us/politics/ronna-mcdaniel-rnc-trump.html |url-status=live}}</ref> ] chair and Republican National Committee Co-Chair ] had also been mentioned as a replacement in several news outlets.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jeff Zeleny, Kaitlan Collins |first=and Daniel Strauss |date=February 6, 2024 |title=RNC Chair McDaniel has offered to step down following South Carolina primary |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/06/politics/ronna-mcdaniel-donald-trump-rnc/index.html |access-date=February 6, 2024 |work=CNN |archive-date=February 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207024719/https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/06/politics/ronna-mcdaniel-donald-trump-rnc/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=MERIDITH MCGRAW |first=and ALEX ISENSTADT |date=February 6, 2024 |title=Ronna McDaniel set to leave RNC in the spring |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/06/ronna-mcdaniel-set-to-leave-rnc-00140047 |access-date=February 6, 2024 |work=Politico |archive-date=February 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207034257/https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/06/ronna-mcdaniel-set-to-leave-rnc-00140047 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Maggie Haberman, Shane Goldmacher, Jonathan Swan |first=and Annie Karni |date=February 6, 2024 |title=Ronna McDaniel, R.N.C. Chairwoman, Plans to Step Down |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/06/us/politics/ronna-mcdaniel-rnc-trump.html |access-date=February 6, 2024 |work=The New York Times |archive-date=February 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207004830/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/06/us/politics/ronna-mcdaniel-rnc-trump.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

====Election as chair====
]

On November 13, 2016, ], ], was announced as the new ], thereby turning the RNC chairman election into an ]. Soon afterward, several candidates were reported as likely to seek the position, including McDaniel.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Goldmacher|first1=Shane|last2=Cheney|first2=Kyle |work=] |date=November 14, 2016 |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/republican-national-committee-priebus-231379|title=Short list emerges for RNC chair|access-date=January 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105193534/http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/republican-national-committee-priebus-231379|archive-date=January 5, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> On December 14, 2016, McDaniel was chosen by then ] Trump as his recommendation to replace Priebus.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Spangler|first1=Todd |work=Detroit Free Press |date=December 14, 2016 |url=http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2016/12/14/donald-trump-ronna-romney-mcdaniel/95441190|title=Trump names Michigan's Ronna Romney McDaniel RNC chair|access-date=January 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222064916/http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2016/12/14/donald-trump-ronna-romney-mcdaniel/95441190/|archive-date=December 22, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Heersink">{{Cite journal|last=Heersink|first=Boris|date=July 25, 2018|title=Trump and the Party-in-Organization: Presidential Control of National Party Organizations|journal=]|volume=80|issue=4|language=en|pages=1474–1482|doi=10.1086/699336|s2cid=158762949|issn=0022-3816}}</ref> She served as deputy chair before her formal election.<ref name="Guard1">{{cite news |last1=Gambino |first1=Lauren |last2=Jacobs |first2=Ben |title=Next RNC chair to be Ronna Romney McDaniel, Mitt Romney's niece |work=] |date=December 14, 2016 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/14/republican-national-committee-ronna-romney-mcdaniel |access-date=July 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726171520/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/14/republican-national-committee-ronna-romney-mcdaniel |archive-date=July 26, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> She was officially elected as RNC chair on January 19, 2017, by unanimous vote, becoming the second woman (after ]) in RNC history to hold the post.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Nelson|first1=Louis |work=]|date=January 19, 2017 |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/ronna-romney-mcdaniel-rnc-chair-233848|title=Ronna Romney McDaniel tapped to be new RNC chair|access-date=January 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119230825/http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/ronna-romney-mcdaniel-rnc-chair-233848|archive-date=January 19, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> According to '']'', Trump requested that she stop using her maiden name, and McDaniel subsequently did not use it in official communications.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Scherer|first1=Michael|last2=Dawsey|first2=Josh|title=Trump calls Romney 'a great man,' but works to undermine him and block Senate run |newspaper=]|date=December 8, 2017 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/politics/trump-calls-romney-a-great-man-but-works-to-undermine-him-and-block-senate-run/2017/12/08/4b9887f2-db82-11e7-a841-2066faf731ef_story.html|access-date=December 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209011336/https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/politics/trump-calls-romney-a-great-man-but-works-to-undermine-him-and-block-senate-run/2017/12/08/4b9887f2-db82-11e7-a841-2066faf731ef_story.html|archive-date=December 9, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> McDaniel denies that Trump pressured her to change the name.<ref name="DN" />

McDaniel was re-elected as RNC chair in unanimous elections in both 2019 and 2021, with the endorsement of Trump in both elections.<ref>{{cite web | last=Burke | first=Melissa | title=Ronna McDaniel elected to second term as RNC chair | url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/25/ronna-mcdaniel-reelected-republican-national-committee/2679352002/ | date=January 25, 2019 | website=detroitnews.com | access-date=January 28, 2023 | archive-date=November 18, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118173723/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/25/ronna-mcdaniel-reelected-republican-national-committee/2679352002/ | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Greenwood | first=Max | title=Ronna McDaniel reelected as RNC chair | url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/533337-ronna-mcdaniel-reelected-as-rnc-chair/ | date=January 8, 2021 | website=] | access-date=January 28, 2023 | archive-date=January 28, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128073314/https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/533337-ronna-mcdaniel-reelected-as-rnc-chair/ | url-status=dead}}</ref>

On January 27, 2023, McDaniel was ] to stand as the Chair for the RNC going into the ], fending off challenges from ] and ] and winning a fourth term. After her victory, McDaniel stated that she would not seek a fifth term as RNC Chair<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/mike-lindell-swore-hed-win-rnc-chair-he-got-destroyed|title=Mike Lindell Swore He'd Win the RNC Chair Race. He Got Smothered.|first1=Jake|last1=Lahut|first2=Zachary|last2=Petrizzo|publisher=Daily Beast|date=January 27, 2023|access-date=January 27, 2023|archive-date=January 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127214239/https://www.thedailybeast.com/mike-lindell-swore-hed-win-rnc-chair-he-got-destroyed|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/27/us/politics/rnc-ronna-mcdaniel-harmeet-dhillon.html|title=Republicans Re-elect Head of the R.N.C. After a Heated Challenge|first1=Lisa|last1=Lerner|first2=Jonathan|last2=Weisman|work=]|date=January 27, 2023|access-date=January 27, 2023|archive-date=January 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127205731/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/27/us/politics/rnc-ronna-mcdaniel-harmeet-dhillon.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 23, 2023 |title=Trump's MAGA forces threaten to upend vote for RNC chair |url=https://apnews.com/article/politics-republican-national-convention-arizona-2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-e20246a295992ec41ddd0cfb7a505a47 |access-date=January 23, 2023 |website=AP NEWS |language=en |archive-date=January 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123123133/https://apnews.com/article/politics-republican-national-convention-arizona-2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-e20246a295992ec41ddd0cfb7a505a47 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Steinhauser | first=Paul | title=RNC's Ronna McDaniel declares 'this is my last term as chair | url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rncs-ronna-mcdaniel-declares-last-term-chair | date=January 27, 2023 | website=] | access-date=January 28, 2023 | archive-date=January 28, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128073329/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rncs-ronna-mcdaniel-declares-last-term-chair | url-status=live}}</ref> and further announced she would resign on advice from ] after he won the ].<ref name=":0" /> She was the longest-serving RNC chair since the ].<ref name="npr">{{Cite web |date=January 27, 2023 |title=GOP Chair Ronna McDaniel wins party leadership vote |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/01/27/1152182495/gop-chair-ronna-mcdaniel-elected-republican |access-date=January 28, 2023 |publisher=] |language=en-US |archive-date=January 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128083633/https://www.npr.org/2023/01/27/1152182495/gop-chair-ronna-mcdaniel-elected-republican |url-status=live}}</ref> Her term ended on March 8, 2024.<ref name=":1" />

====Fundraising efforts====
In 2018, McDaniel spent up to six hours daily calling donors. Under McDaniel's leadership, the RNC had what ''The Washington Post'' described as "a huge financial edge heading into the 2018 midterm elections".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republican-national-committee-has-huge-financial-edge-heading-into-2018-midterms/2018/02/01/c7704056-06af-11e8-94e8-e8b8600ade23_story.html|title=Republican National Committee has huge financial edge heading into 2018 midterms|last1=Lee|first1=Michelle Ye Hee |last2=Narayanswamy|first2=Anu|language=en-US |date=February 1, 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=May 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522113201/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republican-national-committee-has-huge-financial-edge-heading-into-2018-midterms/2018/02/01/c7704056-06af-11e8-94e8-e8b8600ade23_story.html|archive-date=May 22, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> As of January 2018, the RNC had almost $40&nbsp;million banked while the Democratic National Committee had $6.3&nbsp;million.<ref name="Peters" /> As of July 17, the Republican National Committee had raised about $213&nbsp;million for the election cycle with $50.7&nbsp;million in cash on hand and no debt. In comparison, the Democratic National Committee raised $101&nbsp;million during the same period.<ref name="Merica">{{cite news |last1=Merica |first1=Dan |title=Republican National Committee tops $200 million in fundraising ahead of midterms |work=CNN |date=July 17, 2018 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/17/politics/rnc-fundraising-numbers-200-million/index.html |access-date=July 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725190925/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/17/politics/rnc-fundraising-numbers-200-million/index.html |archive-date=July 25, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> After many white suburban female voters switched to vote for Democrats in the 2018 midterm elections, McDaniel said that the party would engage in a "deep data dive" to learn why.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/11/gop-deep-data-dive-2018-losses-1057605 | title=GOP chair: Party will take 'deep data dive' into 2018 losses | website=] | date=December 11, 2018 | access-date=May 25, 2022 | archive-date=May 25, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525215821/https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/11/gop-deep-data-dive-2018-losses-1057605 | url-status=live}}</ref>

==== LGBT rights ====
In 2021, McDaniel issued a statement supporting and celebrating ], but she did not issue a similar statement in 2022 and 2023 following backlash from ].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Arnsdorf |first1=Isaac |last2=Dawsey |first2=Josh |last3=Knowles |first3=Hannah |date=July 2, 2023 |title=Republican opposition to LGBTQ rights erupts in backlash to Pride Month |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/06/30/republicans-pride-month-lgbtq/ |access-date=July 4, 2023 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=July 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728173937/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/06/30/republicans-pride-month-lgbtq/ |url-status=live}}</ref> McDaniel had also announced the creation of the RNC Pride Coalition in coordination with the ], a group of ] Republicans.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Singman |first=Brooke |date=November 8, 2021 |title=RNC announces 'Pride Coalition,' partnership with Log Cabin Republicans ahead of midterms |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rnc-announces-pride-coalition-partnership-with-log-cabin-republicans-ahead-of-midterms |access-date=July 4, 2023 |work=Fox News |language=en-US |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115120520/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rnc-announces-pride-coalition-partnership-with-log-cabin-republicans-ahead-of-midterms |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=McGraw |first=Meridith |date=August 16, 2021 |title=The GOP waves white flag in the same-sex marriage wars |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/08/16/republicans-gay-marriage-wars-505041 |access-date=July 4, 2023 |work=] |language=en |archive-date=November 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231127215949/https://www.politico.com/news/2021/08/16/republicans-gay-marriage-wars-505041 |url-status=live}}</ref> Following the backlash, she apologized for not communicating the initiative prior to the announcement and clarified that the Pride Coalition does not change the GOP's platform on same-sex marriage.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Riley |first=John |date=November 17, 2021 |title=Republican Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel apologizes for poor communication regarding gay outreach initiative |url=https://www.metroweekly.com/2021/11/republican-chairwoman-ronna-mcdaniel-apologizes-for-poor-communication-regarding-gay-outreach-initiative/ |access-date=July 4, 2023 |work=] |language=en-US |archive-date=November 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118215808/https://www.metroweekly.com/2021/11/republican-chairwoman-ronna-mcdaniel-apologizes-for-poor-communication-regarding-gay-outreach-initiative/ |url-status=live}}</ref> McDaniel also said that the initiative was not advocating for any policy issue or change to the platform.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Trudy |last=Ring |date=November 19, 2021 |title=Republican Leader Backtracks on LGBTQ+ Outreach After Backlash |url=https://news.yahoo.com/republican-leader-backtracks-lgbtq-outreach-012700795.html |access-date=July 4, 2023 |work=] |language=en-US |archive-date=July 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704231826/https://news.yahoo.com/republican-leader-backtracks-lgbtq-outreach-012700795.html |url-status=live}}</ref> She faced calls to resign from some state-level Republican leadership.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Svitek |first=Patrick |date=December 12, 2022 |title=After disappointing midterms, Texas GOP votes unanimously for a new national leader |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2022/12/12/texas-gop-ronna-mcdaniel-2022-elections/ |access-date=July 4, 2023 |website=] |language=en |archive-date=July 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704231827/https://www.texastribune.org/2022/12/12/texas-gop-ronna-mcdaniel-2022-elections/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The RNC dismissed the calls for her to resign.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Manchester |first=Julia |date=November 24, 2021 |title=RNC pushes back against call for chair's resignation over LGBT outreach |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/582949-rnc-pushes-back-against-call-for-chairs-resignation-over-lgbt-outreach/ |access-date=July 4, 2023 |work=] |language=en-US |archive-date=July 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704231825/https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/582949-rnc-pushes-back-against-call-for-chairs-resignation-over-lgbt-outreach/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Support for Trump====
'']'' described McDaniel as "unfailingly loyal to Trump".<ref name="Peters">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/13/us/politics/ronna-romney-mcdaniel.html|title=A Romney Who Is Unfailingly Loyal to Trump|last=Peters|first=Jeremy W.|date=January 13, 2018|work=] |language=en-US |access-date=March 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401013120/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/13/us/politics/ronna-romney-mcdaniel.html|archive-date=April 1, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> According to a 2018 study in ''],'' under her leadership the RNC has sought to consistently promote Trump and his policies.<ref name="Heersink" /> This includes running ads for Trump's 2020 campaign as early as in 2018, putting a considerable number of Trump campaign workers and affiliates on the RNC payroll, spending considerable funds at Trump-owned properties, covering Trump's legal fees in the ], hosting Trump's "]", and harshly criticizing Trump critics within the Republican Party.<ref name="Heersink" /> The day after Republican congressman ], known for his criticism of Trump, lost his primary against a pro-Trump candidate, McDaniel tweeted that those who do not embrace Trump's agenda "will be making a mistake".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/392198-gop-chairwoman-anyone-who-doesnt-support-trump-will-be-making-a-mistake/|title=GOP chairwoman: Anyone who doesn't support Trump 'will be making a mistake'|last=Samuels|first=Brett|date=June 13, 2018|work=] |language=en |access-date=June 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614171447/http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/392198-gop-chairwoman-anyone-who-doesnt-support-trump-will-be-making-a-mistake|archive-date=June 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ronna-mcdaniel-trump-embrace-tweet_us_5b220656e4b09d7a3d7a33fa|title=RNC Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel Called Out Over Trump Loyalty Demand|last=Mazza|first=Ed|date=June 14, 2018|work=The Huffington Post |language=en-US |access-date=June 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614162946/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ronna-mcdaniel-trump-embrace-tweet_us_5b220656e4b09d7a3d7a33fa|archive-date=June 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2018, McDaniel praised Trump as a "moral leader".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/04/16/politics/ronna-mcdaniel-comey-moral-trump-cnntv/index.html|title=RNC chairwoman points to Syria strike as proof of Trump's moral leadership|first1=Lauren|last1=Garry|first2=Lindsey|last2=Ellefson|work=CNN |date=April 16, 2018 |access-date=June 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614171401/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/04/16/politics/ronna-mcdaniel-comey-moral-trump-cnntv/index.html|archive-date=June 14, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

'']'' reported that after Trump endorsed Republican Senate candidate ] just days before the special Alabama Senate election, the White House influenced McDaniel to resume RNC funding for Moore, who lost in a narrow election to Democrat ] in December 2017. According to two people close to McDaniel, she privately complained about spending time and money on Moore's behalf. McDaniel was reportedly shocked by Trump's decision to endorse Moore but felt that she had little choice but to follow the president's wishes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/11/roy-moore-trump-republicans-288769|title=How Trump came around to an accused child molester|last1=Johnson|first1=Eliana |last2=Isenstadt|first2=Alex |date=December 11, 2017|work=Politico|access-date=December 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213053821/https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/11/roy-moore-trump-republicans-288769|archive-date=December 13, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>


In January 2019, Mitt Romney penned an editorial for ''The Washington Post'' criticizing President Trump's moral character. McDaniel said the editorial by her uncle, "an incoming Republican freshman senator", "feeds into what the Democrats and mainstream media want" and was "disappointing and unproductive".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/423477-rnc-chair-slams-her-uncle-mitt-romney-for-trump-criticism/|last=Wise|first=Justin|title=RNC chair slams her uncle Mitt Romney for Trump criticism|date=January 2, 2019|work=The Hill|access-date=January 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102203203/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/423477-rnc-chair-slams-her-uncle-mitt-romney-for-trump-criticism|archive-date=January 2, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2019, McDaniel stated she would not support "the nicest, most moral person in the world" to be president if they were not "aligned with politics".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mazza |first1=Ed |title='I Give Up!' Chris Cuomo Surrenders After Kellyanne Conway's Latest Bizarre Claim |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/chris-cuomo-kellyanne-conway-violence_n_5c8b1327e4b0db7da9f16761 |work=] |access-date=March 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190315223243/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/chris-cuomo-kellyanne-conway-violence_n_5c8b1327e4b0db7da9f16761 |archive-date=March 15, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
McDaniel worked in Michigan for her uncle Mitt Romney's ] for ]. She was elected Michigan's representative to the ] (RNC) in 2014.<ref name="DFP"/>


In May 2019, when House Representative ] became the first Republican member of Congress to call for ], citing the evidence of obstruction of justice in the ], McDaniel criticized Amash, saying he was "parroting the Democrats' talking points on Russia".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-engaged-impeachable-conduct-rep-justin-amash/story?id=63127342|title=Trump has 'engaged in impeachable conduct': GOP lawmaker|work=ABC News|language=en|access-date=May 19, 2019|archive-date=November 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121202705/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-engaged-impeachable-conduct-rep-justin-amash/story?id=63127342|url-status=live}}</ref> While she did not explicitly express support for a primary challenge against Amash, she tweeted, "voters in Amash's district strongly support this president".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://politi.co/2QekAN0|title=Michigan GOP congressman says Trump's conduct impeachable|last=Andrew Desiderio|website=Politico|date=May 18, 2019 |language=en|access-date=May 19, 2019|archive-date=November 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121202636/https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/18/justin-amash-trump-impeachable-mueller-1332780|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2015, McDaniel ran for chairwoman of the ], receiving support from both the party establishment and ] activists. At the party's convention in February 2015, she defeated Norm Hughes and Kim Shmina, receiving 55% of the vote in the first ballot. She succeeded ] as chairwoman and stepped down from her position at the RNC.<ref name=niece/><ref name="DFP">{{cite news|last=Egan|first=Paul|url=http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/02/21/michigan-republican-party-convention-chair/23790577/|title=Ronna Romney McDaniel elected Michigan's GOP chair|work=Detroit Free Press|date=February 21, 2015|accessdate=November 14, 2016}}</ref>


In September 2020, following the release of audio recordings from February 2020 where President Trump said he was intentionally downplaying the coronavirus, McDaniel defended Trump's handling of the coronavirus. She said, "history will look back on him well as how he handled this pandemic."<ref>{{Cite news |first=Nolan D. |last=McCaskill |title=Trump team says history will vindicate him on coronavirus |date=September 13, 2020 |work=Politico |language=en |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/13/trump-coronavirus-blame-truth-woodward-413387 |access-date=September 14, 2020 |archive-date=September 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914004217/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/13/trump-coronavirus-blame-truth-woodward-413387 |url-status=live}}</ref>
During the ], McDaniel served as a delegate to the ] for ].<ref name=niece>{{cite news|first1=Todd|last1=Spangler|first2=Kathleen|last2=Gray|url=http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2016/07/20/romney-mcdaniel-navigates-being-mitts-niece-trumps-delegate/87293094/|title=Romney McDaniel navigates being Mitt's niece, Trump's delegate|work=Detroit Free Press|date=July 20, 2016|accessdate=November 14, 2016}}</ref> Following the 2016 presidential election, McDaniel became a candidate to chair the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2016/11/14/trump/93787264/|title=Trump considering Ronna Romney McDaniel for post|work=]|date=November 14, 2016|accessdate=November 14, 2016}}</ref>


By November 2021, the RNC was still covering the legal fees for former president Trump related to investigations into his financial practices in New York.<ref>{{Cite news|title=RNC agrees to pay some of Trump's legal bills in N.Y. criminal investigation|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-rnc-legal-bills-ny-investigation-vance-james/2021/11/22/ef447f38-4bda-11ec-b73b-a00d6e559a6e_story.html|access-date=November 24, 2021|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121152036/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-rnc-legal-bills-ny-investigation-vance-james/2021/11/22/ef447f38-4bda-11ec-b73b-a00d6e559a6e_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
McDaniel was an early supporter of Donald Trump. McDaniel had activist Wendy Day removed from her party position as grassroots vice-chair due to her refusal to support Trump.<ref name="Guard1"/>


====False claims of fraud in the 2020 election====
=== RNC chair (2016&ndash;present) ===
By May 2020, the RNC had allocated $20 million to oppose Democratic lawsuits to make voting easier during the coronavirus pandemic, in particular expanding vote-by-mail to states that had not adopted it previously.<ref name="Brown">{{Cite web|title=GOP calls it voter fraud. Dems call it voting rights. Election battles heat up before November.|url=https://www.deseret.com/indepth/2020/5/18/21262869/national-gop-mail-in-ballot-voting-restrictions-donald-trump-election-republican-democrat|last=Brown|first=Matthew|date=May 18, 2020|website=Deseret News|language=en|access-date=May 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525144643/https://www.deseret.com/indepth/2020/5/18/21262869/national-gop-mail-in-ballot-voting-restrictions-donald-trump-election-republican-democrat|archive-date=May 25, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="restrict">{{Cite web|title=Republicans devote $20m and 50,000 people to efforts to restrict voting|url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/18/republicans-devote-20m-and-50000-people-into-efforts-to-restrict-voting|date=May 18, 2020|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=May 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525104342/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/18/republicans-devote-20m-and-50000-people-into-efforts-to-restrict-voting|archive-date=May 25, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> McDaniel accused Democrats of trying to "destroy" and "assault" the integrity of elections.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Republicans sue California Governor Gavin Newsom, claim his vote-by-mail order is "illegal power grab"|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/republicans-sue-california-governor-gavin-newsom-claim-his-vote-by-mail-order-is-illegal-power-grab/|work=CBS News|date=May 24, 2020 |language=en-US|access-date=May 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525085145/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/republicans-sue-california-governor-gavin-newsom-claim-his-vote-by-mail-order-is-illegal-power-grab/|archive-date=May 25, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="restrict" /> McDaniel said, "a national vote by mail system would open the door to a new set of problems, such as potential election fraud."<ref name="Brown" /> According to ''Deseret News'', "Election experts say while voting by mail can be abused, it's rare and inconsequential."<ref name="Brown" /> In general, research has found no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Republican groups sue California over expanded mail-in voting|date=May 25, 2020 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/republican-groups-sue-california-over-expanded-mail-voting-n1214121|publisher=NBC News|language=en|access-date=May 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525100307/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/republican-groups-sue-california-over-expanded-mail-voting-n1214121|archive-date=May 25, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
On November 13, 2016, ], ], was announced as the new ], thereby turning the RNC chairman election into an ]. Soon afterward, several candidates were reported as likely to seek the position, including McDaniel.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Goldmacher|first1=Shane|last2=Cheney|first2=Kyle|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/republican-national-committee-priebus-231379|title=Short list emerges for RNC chair|accessdate=January 19, 2017|work=]|date=November 14, 2016}}</ref>


In June 2020, McDaniel shared a RNC video warning about ] in the upcoming 2020 election due to expansions of ] related to the coronavirus pandemic.<ref name="WaPo 2020-06-24">{{Cite news |last=Rizzo |first=Salvador |date=June 24, 2020 |title=Fact-checking the GOP's 'satirical' vote-by-mail video |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/06/24/fact-checking-gops-satirical-vote-by-mail-video/ |access-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-date=July 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728004756/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/06/24/fact-checking-gops-satirical-vote-by-mail-video/ |url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Washington Post'' fact-checker wrote that the video "tortures the facts to create a narrative of an election about to be stolen. The illegality being satirized here is a phantom. State election officials, in many cases Republicans, are expanding vote-by-mail as a public health precaution to prevent the risk of spreading the coronavirus — not to rig the outcome."<ref name="WaPo 2020-06-24" />
On December 14, 2016, McDaniel was chosen by then ] Trump as his recommendation to replace Priebus.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Spangler|first1=Todd|url=http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2016/12/14/donald-trump-ronna-romney-mcdaniel/95441190|title=Trump names Michigan's Ronna Romney McDaniel RNC chair|accessdate=January 19, 2017|work=Detroit Free Press|date=December 14, 2016}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Heersink|first=Boris|date=July 25, 2018|title=Trump and the Party-in-Organization: Presidential Control of National Party Organizations|url=https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/699336|journal=]|language=en|pages=000–000|doi=10.1086/699336|issn=0022-3816}}</ref> She served as deputy chair before her formal election.<ref name="Guard1">{{cite news |last1=Gambino |first1=Lauren |last2=Jacobs |first2=Ben |title=Next RNC chair to be Ronna Romney McDaniel, Mitt Romney's niece |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/14/republican-national-committee-ronna-romney-mcdaniel |accessdate=July 26, 2018 |publisher=] |date=December 14, 2016}}</ref> She was officially elected as RNC chair on January 19, 2017, becoming the second woman (after ]) in RNC history to hold the post.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Nelson|first1=Louis|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/ronna-romney-mcdaniel-rnc-chair-233848|title=Ronna Romney McDaniel tapped to be new RNC chair|accessdate=January 19, 2017|work=]|date=January 19, 2017}}</ref> According to '']'', Trump requested that she stop using her maiden name, and McDaniel subsequently did not use it in official communications.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Scherer|first1=Michael|last2=Dawsey|first2=Josh|title=Trump calls Romney 'a great man,' but works to undermine him and block Senate run|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/politics/trump-calls-romney-a-great-man-but-works-to-undermine-him-and-block-senate-run/2017/12/08/4b9887f2-db82-11e7-a841-2066faf731ef_story.html|accessdate=December 9, 2017|work=]|date=December 8, 2017}}</ref> McDaniel denies that Trump pressured her to change the name.<ref name="DN" />


After Joe Biden won the 2020 election, McDaniel claimed without evidence that there was electoral fraud and voter fraud, and had the RNC promote falsehoods and conspiracy theories about the election.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Oprysko|first=Caitlin|date=November 6, 2020|title=Ronna McDaniel asks for 'time' to produce specific claims of alleged voter fraud|language=en|work=Politico|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/06/ronna-mcdaniel-alleged-voter-fraud-434724|url-status=live|access-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116035405/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/06/ronna-mcdaniel-alleged-voter-fraud-434724|archive-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Gray|first1=Kathleen|last2=Rutenberg|first2=Jim|last3=Corasaniti|first3=Nick|date=November 18, 2020|title=Michigan Republicans Backtrack After Refusing to Certify Election Results|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/us/politics/michigan-certify-election-results.html|url-status=live|access-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118132143/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/us/politics/michigan-certify-election-results.html|archive-date=November 18, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=November 10, 2020|title=US election: Justice lawyer quits after attorney general orders 'vote fraud' inquiries|language=en-GB|publisher=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-54882647|url-status=live|access-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118045706/https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-54882647|archive-date=November 18, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Politico" /> At the same time that she was making claims of fraud, President Trump endorsed her to continue to lead the RNC in the January 2021 RNC chairman election.<ref name="Bloomberg 2020-11-11">{{Cite news|last=Beckwith|first=Ryan Teague|date=November 11, 2020|title=Trump Wants McDaniel to Return as GOP Leader: Election Update|language=en|publisher=Bloomberg|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-11/recounts-unlikely-to-help-trump-overturn-loss-election-update|url-status=live|access-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116033017/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-11/recounts-unlikely-to-help-trump-overturn-loss-election-update|archive-date=November 16, 2020}}</ref><ref>Martin, Jonathan; ] (November 22, 2020). "How Trump Hopes to Use Party Machinery to Retain Control of the G.O.P." ''The New York Times''. Retrieved November 22, 2020.</ref><ref name="Politico">{{cite news|title=The Inside Story of Michigan's Fake Voter Fraud Scandal|website=Politico|url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/11/24/michigan-election-trump-voter-fraud-democracy-440475|access-date=November 25, 2020|archive-date=November 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125020520/https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/11/24/michigan-election-trump-voter-fraud-democracy-440475|url-status=live}}</ref>
'']'' described McDaniel as "unfailingly loyal to Trump."<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/13/us/politics/ronna-romney-mcdaniel.html|title=A Romney Who Is Unfailingly Loyal to Trump|last=Peters|first=Jeremy W.|date=January 13, 2018|work=]|access-date=March 31, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> According to a 2018 study in ''],'' under her leadership the RNC has sought to consistently promote Trump and his policies.<ref name=":1" /> This includes running ads for Trump's 2020 campaign as early as in 2018, putting a considerable number of Trump campaign workers and affiliates on the RNC payroll, spending considerable funds at Trump-owned properties, covering Trump's legal fees in the Russian interference investigation, hosting Trump's "Fake News Awards", and harshly criticizing Trump critics within the Republican Party.<ref name=":1" /> The day after Republican congressman ], known for his criticism of Trump, lost his primary against a pro-Trump candidate, McDaniel tweeted that those who do not embrace Trump's agenda "will be making a mistake".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/392198-gop-chairwoman-anyone-who-doesnt-support-trump-will-be-making-a-mistake|title=GOP chairwoman: Anyone who doesn't support Trump 'will be making a mistake'|last=Samuels|first=Brett|date=June 13, 2018|work=]|access-date=June 14, 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ronna-mcdaniel-trump-embrace-tweet_us_5b220656e4b09d7a3d7a33fa|title=RNC Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel Called Out Over Trump Loyalty Demand|last=Mazza|first=Ed|date=June 14, 2018|work=Huffington Post|access-date=June 14, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> In April 2018, McDaniel praised Trump as a "moral leader".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/04/16/politics/ronna-mcdaniel-comey-moral-trump-cnntv/index.html|title=RNC chairwoman points to Syria strike as proof of Trump's moral leadership|first1=Lauren |last1=Garry |first2=Lindsey |last2=Ellefson |work=CNN|access-date=June 14, 2018|date=April 16, 2018}}</ref>


In 2022, McDaniel led efforts within the RNC to censure Republican members of Congress ] and ] who had voted to impeach Trump over his incitement of a pro-Trump mob in the ] and served on a bipartisan committee to investigate the attack.<ref name="WaPo 2022-02-03">{{Cite news|date=February 3, 2022|title=Republicans rebuke Liz Cheney in unprecedented moves|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/02/03/rnc-cheney-trump/|access-date=February 4, 2022|archive-date=February 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204024001/https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/02/03/rnc-cheney-trump/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NYTimes 2022-02-04" /> Within the Republican Party, Cheney had a consistently conservative record, aside from her criticisms of Trump.<ref name="WaPo 2022-02-03" /> The censure that McDaniel orchestrated characterized the U.S. Capitol attack as "legitimate political discourse".<ref name="NYTimes 2022-02-04" />
] reported that after President Trump endorsed Republican Senate candidate ] just days before the special Alabama Senate election, the White House influenced McDaniel to resume RNC funding for Moore, who lost in a narrow election to Democrat ] on December 12, 2017. According to two people close to McDaniel, she privately complained about spending time and money on Moore’s behalf. McDaniel was reportedly shocked by Trump's decision to endorse Moore but felt that she had little choice but to follow the president's wishes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/11/roy-moore-trump-republicans-288769|title=How Trump came around to an accused child molester|last1=Johnson|first1=Eliana|date=December 11, 2017|work=Politico|accessdate=December 13, 2017|last2=Isenstadt|first2=Alex}}</ref>


====Campaign donations controversies====
In October 2017 after ], a major donor to the ], was accused of sexual abuse, McDaniel said that "returning Weinstein's dirty money should be a no-brainer"; the Democratic Party did gave away some of Weinstein's contributions. In January 2018, ] resigned as RNC finance chairman after he was accused of sexual misconduct and McDaniel came under pressure to return his donations. McDaniel said that Wynn should be allowed "due process" and that his donations would only be returned after the allegations were investigated by the ] board of directors.<ref>{{cite news|title=RNC chair says group will return Steve Wynn's donations if allegations are true|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jan/30/rnc-steve-wynn-sexual-misconduct-allegations|work=The Guardian|date=January 30, 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Sommer|first1=Will|title=RNC will keep Wynn money until outside investigation is complete|url=http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/371369-rnc-will|work=The Hill|date=January 30, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Blake|first1=Aaron|title=Analysis {{!}} Republicans draw a very fine line between Steve Wynn and Harvey Weinstein, while keeping Wynn’s money|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/01/30/republicans-draw-a-very-fine-line-between-steve-wynn-and-harvey-weinstein-while-keeping-wynns-money/|work=The Washington Post|date=January 30, 2018}}</ref> In May 2019, it was reported that Wynn had donated nearly $400,000 to the national Republican Party, most of it to the RNC, the previous month. In 2017, Wynn and his wife donated $375,000 to the RNC. As of May 2019, none of the money has been returned by the RNC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://politi.co/2JqrEoX|title=Republicans take $400k from casino mogul accused of sexual assault|last=Isenstadt|first=Alex|website=POLITICO|language=en|access-date=2019-05-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/19/us/politics/rnc-steve-wynn-donations.html|title=R.N.C. Accepts Money From Steve Wynn, Mogul Accused of Sexual Misconduct|last=Haberman|first=Maggie|date=2019-05-19|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-05-19|last2=Karni|first2=Annie|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
In October 2017 after ], a major donor to the ], was accused of sexual abuse, McDaniel said that "returning Weinstein's dirty money should be a no-brainer"; the Democratic Party did give away some of Weinstein's contributions. In January 2018, ] resigned as RNC finance chairman after he was accused of sexual misconduct and McDaniel came under pressure to return his donations. McDaniel said that Wynn should be allowed "due process" and that his donations would be returned only after the allegations were investigated by the ] board of directors.<ref>{{cite news|title=RNC chair says group will return Steve Wynn's donations if allegations are true|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jan/30/rnc-steve-wynn-sexual-misconduct-allegations|work=The Guardian|date=January 30, 2018|language=en|access-date=January 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201020255/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jan/30/rnc-steve-wynn-sexual-misconduct-allegations|archive-date=February 1, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Sommer|first1=Will|title=RNC will keep Wynn money until outside investigation is complete|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/371369-rnc-will/|work=The Hill|date=January 30, 2018|access-date=January 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201075245/http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/371369-rnc-will|archive-date=February 1, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Blake|first1=Aaron|title=Analysis {{!}} Republicans draw a very fine line between Steve Wynn and Harvey Weinstein, while keeping Wynn's money|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/01/30/republicans-draw-a-very-fine-line-between-steve-wynn-and-harvey-weinstein-while-keeping-wynns-money/|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 30, 2018|access-date=January 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131225438/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/01/30/republicans-draw-a-very-fine-line-between-steve-wynn-and-harvey-weinstein-while-keeping-wynns-money/|archive-date=January 31, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2019, it was reported that Wynn had donated nearly $400,000 to the national Republican Party, most of it to the RNC, the previous month. In 2017, Wynn and his wife donated $375,000 to the RNC. As of May 2019, none of the money has been returned by the RNC. Steve Wynn has never been convicted of the allegations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://politi.co/2JqrEoX|title=Republicans take $400k from casino mogul accused of sexual assault|last=Isenstadt|first=Alex|website=Politico|date=May 17, 2019 |language=en|access-date=May 19, 2019|archive-date=November 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121202704/https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/17/republicans-steve-wynn-sexual-assault-1331479|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Haberman|first1=Maggie |authorlink=Maggie Haberman |last2=Karni|first2=Annie|language=en-US|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/19/us/politics/rnc-steve-wynn-donations.html|title=R.N.C. Accepts Money From Steve Wynn, Mogul Accused of Sexual Misconduct|date=May 19, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190519211810/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/19/us/politics/rnc-steve-wynn-donations.html|archive-date=May 19, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>


In September 2019, McDaniel emailed ], whose nomination to become Ambassador to the Bahamas was stalled in the Senate, asking for $500,000 in donations to the Republican Party. Manchester responded, noting that his wife had given $100,000 and that his family would "respond" once he was confirmed by the Republican-led Senate to the ambassadorship. Manchester copied the email to aides of two U.S. senators whose support he needed to win confirmation. CBS News described McDaniel's action as a "possible pay-for-play scheme" for the ambassadorship.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doug-manchester-possible-pay-to-play-scheme-for-ambassador-role-in-trump-administration-uncovered/ |title=Possible pay-to-play scheme for ambassador role in Trump administration uncovered by CBS News |date=November 18, 2019 |work=CBS News |language=en |access-date=November 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119012713/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doug-manchester-possible-pay-to-play-scheme-for-ambassador-role-in-trump-administration-uncovered/ |archive-date=November 19, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2019/11/18/20970842/ronna-mcdaniel-rnc-doug-manchester-ambassador-bahamas-trump|title=New investigation suggests Republicans took ambassadorial pay-to-play to new levels|last=Rupar|first=Aaron|date=November 18, 2019|website=Vox|language=en|access-date=November 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119012644/https://www.vox.com/2019/11/18/20970842/ronna-mcdaniel-rnc-doug-manchester-ambassador-bahamas-trump|archive-date=November 19, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The San Diego Union-Tribune'' reported in May 2021 that a federal grand jury had issued a subpoena in a criminal investigation into Manchester's nomination, apparently focused on the RNC, McDaniel and RNC co-chairman ], and possibly members of Congress. ''The'' ''Union-Tribune'' reported the investigation began in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/story/2021-05-15/manchester-contributions-probe|title=Manchester's political contributions, ambassador nod are subject of criminal probe|date=May 15, 2021|website=The San Diego Union-Tribune|access-date=May 16, 2021|archive-date=May 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516191530/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/story/2021-05-15/manchester-contributions-probe|url-status=live}}</ref>
Under McDaniel's leadership, the RNC set up a website in April 2018 which attacked and sought to undermine former FBI Director ] and called him "Lyin' Comey".<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/04/12/politics/trump-comey-publicity-tour/index.html|title=Exclusive: Inside the GOP plan to discredit Comey|first=Jeff |last=Zeleny |work=CNN|access-date=April 12, 2018}}</ref> McDaniel said Comey was a liar and a leaker, and said that the RNC would "make sure the American people understand why he has no one but himself to blame for his complete lack of credibility".<ref name=":0" /><ref name="thehill.com">{{cite news|url=http://thehill.com/homenews/media/383109-tapper-asks-rnc-chief-what-gives-you-moral-ground-to-question-comeys-integrity|title=Tapper asks RNC chief: What gives you 'moral ground' to question Comey's integrity?|first=Jesse|last=Byrnes|date=April 13, 2018|newspaper=The Hill}}</ref>


====Other controversies====
As of 2018, McDaniel spends up to six hours daily calling donors. Under McDaniel’s leadership, the RNC had what the ''Washington Post'' described as “a huge financial edge heading into the 2018 midterm elections.”<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republican-national-committee-has-huge-financial-edge-heading-into-2018-midterms/2018/02/01/c7704056-06af-11e8-94e8-e8b8600ade23_story.html|title=Republican National Committee has huge financial edge heading into 2018 midterms|last=Lee|first=Michelle Ye Hee|date=February 1, 2018|work=The Washington Post|access-date=May 21, 2018|last2=Narayanswamy|first2=Anu|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> As of January 2018, the RNC had almost $40 million banked while the Democratic National Committee had a mere $6.3 million.<ref name=":2" /> As of July 17, the Republican National Committee had raised about $213 million for the election cycle with $50.7 million in cash on hand and no debt. The Democratic National Committee raised just $101 million during the same period.<ref name="Merica">{{cite news |last1=Merica |first1=Dan |title=Republican National Committee tops $200 million in fundraising ahead of midterms |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/17/politics/rnc-fundraising-numbers-200-million/index.html |accessdate=July 26, 2018 |work=CNN |date=July 17, 2018}}</ref>
Under McDaniel's leadership, the RNC set up a website in April 2018 which attacked and sought to undermine former FBI Director ] and called him "Lyin' Comey".<ref name="comey">{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/04/12/politics/trump-comey-publicity-tour/index.html|title=Exclusive: Inside the GOP plan to discredit Comey|first=Jeff|last=Zeleny|work=CNN|access-date=April 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412200350/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/04/12/politics/trump-comey-publicity-tour/index.html|archive-date=April 12, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> McDaniel said Comey was a liar and a leaker, and said that the RNC would "make sure the American people understand why he has no one but himself to blame for his complete lack of credibility".<ref name="comey" /><ref name="thehill.com">{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/383109-tapper-asks-rnc-chief-what-gives-you-moral-ground-to-question-comeys-integrity/|title=Tapper asks RNC chief: What gives you 'moral ground' to question Comey's integrity?|first=Jesse|last=Byrnes|date=April 13, 2018|newspaper=The Hill|access-date=April 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415065726/http://thehill.com/homenews/media/383109-tapper-asks-rnc-chief-what-gives-you-moral-ground-to-question-comeys-integrity|archive-date=April 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>


''Politico'' reported in November 2018 that McDaniel called on the Republican candidate ] to be more aggressive during the ballot counting process in the ]. The Arizona Senate race remained undecided for several days after election night while all ballots were being accounted in a close contest.<ref name="Arkin">{{Cite news |first1=James|last1=Arkin|first2=Alex|last2=Isenstadt|date=November 9, 2018 |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/09/sinema-mcsally-arizona-senate-race-982562|title=Sinema expands lead in Arizona Senate race|work=] |language=en |access-date=November 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112223031/https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/09/sinema-mcsally-arizona-senate-race-982562|archive-date=November 12, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> McSally held a lead by the end of election night, but her lead narrowed over the next few days, as more ballots were counted.<ref name="Arkin" /> Reportedly, the McSally campaign was being pressured from McDaniel for not being aggressive enough.<ref name="Arkin" /><ref>{{Cite news |first=Jessica|last=Boehm|date=November 12, 2018 |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/11/12/arizona-elections-no-evidence-voter-fraud-despite-claims-senate-martha-mcsally-kyrsten-sinema/1975617002/|title=Despite rampant claims, there is no evidence of voter fraud in Arizona|work=] |language=en |access-date=November 13, 2018 |archive-date=November 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121202634/https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/11/12/arizona-elections-no-evidence-voter-fraud-despite-claims-senate-martha-mcsally-kyrsten-sinema/1975617002/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first=Rachel|last=Leingang|date=November 12, 2018 |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/11/12/arizona-senate-martha-mcsally-concedes-kyrsten-sinema/1984298002/|title=Martha McSally concedes to Kyrsten Sinema after 'hard-fought battle'|work=] |language=en |access-date=November 13, 2018 |archive-date=November 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121202635/https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/11/12/arizona-senate-martha-mcsally-concedes-kyrsten-sinema/1984298002/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In late July 2018, McDaniel falsely<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.niemanlab.org/2018/07/twitters-not-shadow-banning-republicans-but-get-ready-to-hear-that-it-is/.|title=Twitter’s not "shadow banning" Republicans, but get ready to hear that it is|work=Nieman Lab|access-date=July 31, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/26/us/politics/twitter-shadowbanning.html|title=What Is a 'Shadow Ban,' and Is Twitter Doing It to Republican Accounts?|access-date=July 31, 2018|language=en|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> claimed that ] was ] Republicans, including herself.<ref name="shadow" /> Twitter did not shadowban Republicans, but due to a glitch, several prominent conservative and left-leaning Twitter accounts were not automatically suggested in the site's drop-down search results.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/charliewarzel/twitter-shadow-ban-republicans-bug|title=Twitter Isn't Shadow-Banning Republicans. Here's Why.|work=BuzzFeed News|access-date=July 31, 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.engadget.com/2018/07/26/twitter-says-republican-shadow-ban-is-a-bug/|title=Twitter says supposed 'shadow ban' of prominent Republicans is a bug|work=Engadget|access-date=July 31, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="shadow">{{cite news |title=RNC Chair Calls for Transparency From Twitter After Alleged 'Shadow Banning' of Republicans |url=http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/07/27/rnc-chair-calls-transparency-twitter-after-shadow-banning-republicans |accessdate=July 30, 2018 |work=Fox News |date=July 27, 2018}}</ref> Twitter responded, saying it would fix the bug.<ref name="HillBan1">{{cite news |last1=Samuels |first1=Brett |title=Trump: 'We will look into' Twitter for 'shadow banning' Republicans |url=http://thehill.com/policy/technology/398943-trump-government-will-look-into-twitter-for-shadow-banning-republicans |accessdate=July 31, 2018 |newspaper=The Hill |date=July 26, 2018}}</ref>


On May 13, 2020, '']'' reported that big RNC contracts were awarded by McDaniel to companies closely connected to her.<ref name="Spies">{{cite news |last1=Spies |first1=Mike |last2=Pearson |first2=Jake |title=The RNC Gave Big Contracts to Companies Linked to Its Chairwoman's Husband and Political Backers |work=] |date=March 13, 2020 |language=en |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/the-rnc-gave-big-contracts-to-companies-linked-to-its-chairwomans-husband-and-political-backers |access-date=June 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623000201/https://www.propublica.org/article/the-rnc-gave-big-contracts-to-companies-linked-to-its-chairwomans-husband-and-political-backers |archive-date=June 23, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Contracts went to her husband's company and companies that supported her 2015 run for the chairmanship of the Republican Party in Michigan.<ref name="Spies" />
''Politico'' reported in November 2018 that McDaniel called on the Republican candidate ] to be more aggressive during the ballot counting process in the ]. The Arizona Senate race remained undecided for several days after election night while all ballots were being accounted in a close contest.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/09/sinema-mcsally-arizona-senate-race-982562|title=Sinema expands lead in Arizona Senate race|work=]|access-date=November 13, 2018|language=en|first1=James|last1=Arkin|first2=Alex|last2=Isenstadt|date=November 9, 2018}}</ref> McSally held a lead by the end of election night, but her lead narrowed over the next few days, as more ballots were counted.<ref name=":02" /> Reportedly, the McSally campaign was being pressured from McDaniel for not being aggressive enough.<ref name=":02" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/11/12/arizona-elections-no-evidence-voter-fraud-despite-claims-senate-martha-mcsally-kyrsten-sinema/1975617002/|title=Despite rampant claims, there is no evidence of voter fraud in Arizona|work=]|access-date=November 13, 2018|language=en|first=Jessica|last=Boehm|date=November 12, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/11/12/arizona-senate-martha-mcsally-concedes-kyrsten-sinema/1984298002/|title=Martha McSally concedes to Kyrsten Sinema after 'hard-fought battle'|work=]|access-date=November 13, 2018|language=en|first=Rachel|last=Leingang|date=November 12, 2018}}</ref>


=== Later career ===
In January 2019, Mitt Romney penned an editorial for ''The Washington Post'' criticizing President Trump's moral character. McDaniel said the editorial by her uncle, "an incoming Republican freshman senator", "feeds into what the Democrats and mainstream media want" and was "disappointing and unproductive."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/423477-rnc-chair-slams-her-uncle-mitt-romney-for-trump-criticism|last=Wise|first=Justin|title=RNC chair slams her uncle Mitt Romney for Trump criticism|date=2019-01-02|work=The Hill|access-date=2019-01-02 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> In March 2019, McDaniel stated she would not support "the nicest, most moral person in the world" to be president if they were not "aligned with politics".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mazza |first1=Ed |title='I Give Up!' Chris Cuomo Surrenders After Kellyanne Conway’s Latest Bizarre Claim |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/chris-cuomo-kellyanne-conway-violence_n_5c8b1327e4b0db7da9f16761 |work=] |accessdate=March 15, 2019}}</ref>
On March 22, 2024, ] announced that it had hired McDaniel as a contributor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weprin |first=Alex |date=March 22, 2024 |title=NBC News Hires Former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/nbc-news-hires-ronna-mcdaniel-msnbc-analyst-1235858150/ |access-date=March 22, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=March 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322151431/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/nbc-news-hires-ronna-mcdaniel-msnbc-analyst-1235858150/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Many of the network's hosts publicly opposed the hiring, due to her false statements about the 2020 election, which included instances of undermining journalism and attacks on ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lizza |first=Ryan |date=March 25, 2024 |title=NBC's McDaniel mess threatens to explode |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/25/nbc-ronna-mcdaniel-chuck-todd-00148772 |website=Politico}}</ref> Four days later, NBC reversed its decision and parted ways with McDaniel.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barr |first=Jeremy |date=2024-03-26 |title=NBC reverses decision to hire Ronna McDaniel after on-air backlash |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/media/2024/03/26/nbc-drops-ronna-mcdaniel-backlash/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=March 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327021821/https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/media/2024/03/26/nbc-drops-ronna-mcdaniel-backlash/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


== Personal life ==
In May 2019, when House Representative ] became the first Republican member of Congress to call for ], citing the evidence of obstruction of justice in the ], McDaniel criticized Amash, saying he was "parroting the Democrats' talking points on Russia".<ref name=":03">{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-engaged-impeachable-conduct-rep-justin-amash/story?id=63127342|title=Trump has 'engaged in impeachable conduct': GOP lawmaker|website=ABC News|language=en|access-date=2019-05-19}}</ref> While she did not explicitly express support for a primary challenge against Amash, she tweeted, "voters in Amash’s district strongly support this president."<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|url=https://politi.co/2QekAN0|title=Michigan GOP congressman says Trump’s conduct impeachable|last=Andrew Desiderio|website=POLITICO|language=en|access-date=2019-05-19}}</ref>
A member of ],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Glueck|first1=Katie|date=March 7, 2017|title=Can Ronna Romney McDaniel unite a fractured Republican Party?|publisher=]|url=https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article136769203.html|url-status=live|access-date=August 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170531163604/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article136769203.html|archive-date=May 31, 2017}}</ref> she has two children with her husband, Patrick McDaniel.<ref name="latest" /> They live in ].<ref name="patch" />


==Notes==
In September 2019, McDaniel asked ], whose nomination to become Ambassador to the Bahamas was stalled in the Senate, for $500,000 in donations to the Republican Party. Manchester responded, noting that his wife had given $100,000 and that his family would "respond" once he was confirmed by the Republican-led Senate to the ambassadorship. CBS News described McDaniel's action as a "possible pay-for-play scheme" for the ambassadorship.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doug-manchester-possible-pay-to-play-scheme-for-ambassador-role-in-trump-administration-uncovered/ |title=Possible pay-to-play scheme for ambassador role in Trump administration uncovered by CBS News |date=November 18, 2019 |work=CBS News |language=en |access-date=2019-11-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2019/11/18/20970842/ronna-mcdaniel-rnc-doug-manchester-ambassador-bahamas-trump|title=New investigation suggests Republicans took ambassadorial pay-to-play to new levels|last=Rupar|first=Aaron|date=2019-11-18|website=Vox|language=en|access-date=2019-11-19}}</ref>
{{Notelist}}


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist|30em}} {{Reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{twitter|GOPChairwoman}} * {{twitter|GOPChairwoman}}
* {{C-SPAN|Ronna Romney McDaniel}} * {{C-SPAN|68058}}


{{s-start}} {{s-start}}
Line 86: Line 127:
|- |-
{{s-bef|before=]}} {{s-bef|before=]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the ]|years=2017–present}} {{s-ttl|title=Chair of the ]|years=2017–2024}}
{{s-aft|after=]}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}} {{s-end}}


{{Republican Party (United States)|state=collapsed}} {{Republican Party (United States) |state=collapsed}}
{{Republican State Chairs}}
{{Mitt Romney}} {{Mitt Romney}}
{{Authority control}} {{Authority control}}
Line 97: Line 137:
{{DEFAULTSORT:McDaniel, Ronna}} {{DEFAULTSORT:McDaniel, Ronna}}
] ]
]
] ]
]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]

Latest revision as of 15:04, 11 November 2024

American political strategist (born 1973)

Ronna McDaniel
McDaniel in 2018
Chair of the Republican National Committee
In office
January 19, 2017 – March 8, 2024
Preceded byReince Priebus
Succeeded byMichael Whatley
Chair of the Michigan Republican Party
In office
February 21, 2015 – January 19, 2017
Preceded byBobby Schostak
Succeeded byRonald Weiser
Personal details
BornRonna Romney
(1973-03-20) March 20, 1973 (age 51)
Austin, Texas, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpousePatrick McDaniel
Children2
RelativesRonna Romney (mother)
Mitt Romney (uncle)
See Romney family
EducationBrigham Young University (BA)

Ronna Romney McDaniel (née Romney; born March 20, 1973) is an American political strategist who served as chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) from 2017 until her resignation in 2024. A member of the Republican Party and the Romney family, McDaniel was chair of the Michigan Republican Party from 2015 to 2017.

During McDaniel's tenure as chair of the RNC, the Republican Party lost eight gubernatorial elections, four seats in the United States Senate, 20 seats in the House of Representatives, and the presidency. In December 2022, Axios wrote that McDaniel "has thus far failed to preside over a single positive election cycle."

McDaniel is a granddaughter of Michigan Governor and businessman George W. Romney and a niece of Massachusetts Governor and U.S. Senator Mitt Romney of Utah. She is known for her prolific fundraising and staunch support for former President Donald Trump while RNC chair. Under her leadership, the RNC ran ads for Trump's 2020 campaign as early as 2018, placed numerous Trump campaign workers and affiliates on the RNC payroll, spent considerable funds at Trump-owned properties, covered Trump's legal fees during the Russian interference investigation, hosted the Fake News Awards, and criticized Trump critics within the Republican Party.

McDaniel and the RNC made claims of voter fraud after Joe Biden's 2020 election victory, which Trump refused to concede and attempted to overturn. In 2022, McDaniel orchestrated a censure of Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, the two Republicans who served on the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack. The censure characterized the violent pro-Trump mob as having engaged in "legitimate political discourse". In its fourth public hearing, the House January 6 Committee presented an excerpt of a deposition where McDaniel revealed she had directed the RNC to help organize fake electors for the Trump fake electors plotat the request of Trump and John Eastman.

On February 26, 2024, McDaniel announced her resignation as RNC chair on advice from Donald Trump following his victory in the 2024 South Carolina Republican presidential primary. Her term as chair of the RNC ended March 8. McDaniel served as an NBC News on-air political contributor for less than a week in March 2024.

Early life and education

McDaniel was born Ronna Romney on March 20, 1973, in Austin, Texas. The third of five children born to Ronna Stern Romney and Scott Romney, the older brother of Mitt Romney, McDaniel is a granddaughter of three-term Michigan Governor George W. Romney. Her mother ran for the U.S. Senate in 1996 against Carl Levin, served on the Republican National Committee, and was a delegate to the 1988 Republican National Convention. Romney's grandmother, Lenore Romney, ran for the U.S. Senate in 1970. McDaniel has said her career in politics was inspired by her family.

She attended Lahser High School in Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan, and earned an undergraduate degree in English from Brigham Young University.

Career

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2024)

McDaniel worked for SRCP Media as a production manager. She also worked for the production company Mills James as a business manager and as a manager at the staffing firm Ajilon.

McDaniel worked in Michigan for her uncle Mitt's 2012 campaign for President of the United States. She was elected Michigan's representative to the Republican National Committee (RNC) in 2014. In 2015, McDaniel ran to be chair of the Michigan Republican Party, receiving support from both the party establishment and Tea Party activists. At the party's convention in February 2015, she defeated Norm Hughes and Kim Shmina, receiving 55% of the vote in the first ballot. She succeeded Bobby Schostak as chair and stepped down from her position at the RNC.

During the 2016 U.S. presidential election, McDaniel served as a delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention for Donald Trump. Following the 2016 presidential election, McDaniel became a candidate to chair the Republican National Committee. McDaniel was an early supporter of Donald Trump. McDaniel had activist Wendy Day removed from her party position as grassroots vice-chair due to her refusal to support Trump.

RNC chair

During McDaniel's tenure as chair of the RNC, the Republican Party had a net loss of seven governorships, three seats in the United States Senate, 19 seats in the House of Representatives, and the presidency. In December 2022, Axios wrote that McDaniel "has thus far failed to preside over a single positive election cycle."

On February 6, 2024, The New York Times reported that McDaniel intends to resign after the South Carolina Republican presidential primary, following dissatisfaction from Trump, who has publicly supported North Carolina Republican Party chair Michael Whatley. South Carolina Republican Party chair and Republican National Committee Co-Chair Drew McKissick had also been mentioned as a replacement in several news outlets.

Election as chair

McDaniel at the 2018 Young Women's Leadership Summit

On November 13, 2016, Reince Priebus, chairman of the RNC, was announced as the new White House Chief of Staff, thereby turning the RNC chairman election into an open seat election. Soon afterward, several candidates were reported as likely to seek the position, including McDaniel. On December 14, 2016, McDaniel was chosen by then president-elect Trump as his recommendation to replace Priebus. She served as deputy chair before her formal election. She was officially elected as RNC chair on January 19, 2017, by unanimous vote, becoming the second woman (after Mary Louise Smith) in RNC history to hold the post. According to The Washington Post, Trump requested that she stop using her maiden name, and McDaniel subsequently did not use it in official communications. McDaniel denies that Trump pressured her to change the name.

McDaniel was re-elected as RNC chair in unanimous elections in both 2019 and 2021, with the endorsement of Trump in both elections.

On January 27, 2023, McDaniel was re-elected to stand as the Chair for the RNC going into the 2024 U.S. presidential election, fending off challenges from Harmeet Dhillon and Mike Lindell and winning a fourth term. After her victory, McDaniel stated that she would not seek a fifth term as RNC Chair and further announced she would resign on advice from Donald Trump after he won the 2024 South Carolina Republican presidential primary. She was the longest-serving RNC chair since the Civil War. Her term ended on March 8, 2024.

Fundraising efforts

In 2018, McDaniel spent up to six hours daily calling donors. Under McDaniel's leadership, the RNC had what The Washington Post described as "a huge financial edge heading into the 2018 midterm elections". As of January 2018, the RNC had almost $40 million banked while the Democratic National Committee had $6.3 million. As of July 17, the Republican National Committee had raised about $213 million for the election cycle with $50.7 million in cash on hand and no debt. In comparison, the Democratic National Committee raised $101 million during the same period. After many white suburban female voters switched to vote for Democrats in the 2018 midterm elections, McDaniel said that the party would engage in a "deep data dive" to learn why.

LGBT rights

In 2021, McDaniel issued a statement supporting and celebrating LGBT Pride Month, but she did not issue a similar statement in 2022 and 2023 following backlash from social conservatives. McDaniel had also announced the creation of the RNC Pride Coalition in coordination with the Log Cabin Republicans, a group of LGBTQ Republicans. Following the backlash, she apologized for not communicating the initiative prior to the announcement and clarified that the Pride Coalition does not change the GOP's platform on same-sex marriage. McDaniel also said that the initiative was not advocating for any policy issue or change to the platform. She faced calls to resign from some state-level Republican leadership. The RNC dismissed the calls for her to resign.

Support for Trump

The New York Times described McDaniel as "unfailingly loyal to Trump". According to a 2018 study in The Journal of Politics, under her leadership the RNC has sought to consistently promote Trump and his policies. This includes running ads for Trump's 2020 campaign as early as in 2018, putting a considerable number of Trump campaign workers and affiliates on the RNC payroll, spending considerable funds at Trump-owned properties, covering Trump's legal fees in the Russian interference investigation, hosting Trump's "Fake News Awards", and harshly criticizing Trump critics within the Republican Party. The day after Republican congressman Mark Sanford, known for his criticism of Trump, lost his primary against a pro-Trump candidate, McDaniel tweeted that those who do not embrace Trump's agenda "will be making a mistake". In April 2018, McDaniel praised Trump as a "moral leader".

Politico reported that after Trump endorsed Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore just days before the special Alabama Senate election, the White House influenced McDaniel to resume RNC funding for Moore, who lost in a narrow election to Democrat Doug Jones in December 2017. According to two people close to McDaniel, she privately complained about spending time and money on Moore's behalf. McDaniel was reportedly shocked by Trump's decision to endorse Moore but felt that she had little choice but to follow the president's wishes.

In January 2019, Mitt Romney penned an editorial for The Washington Post criticizing President Trump's moral character. McDaniel said the editorial by her uncle, "an incoming Republican freshman senator", "feeds into what the Democrats and mainstream media want" and was "disappointing and unproductive". In March 2019, McDaniel stated she would not support "the nicest, most moral person in the world" to be president if they were not "aligned with politics".

In May 2019, when House Representative Justin Amash became the first Republican member of Congress to call for Trump's impeachment, citing the evidence of obstruction of justice in the Mueller Report, McDaniel criticized Amash, saying he was "parroting the Democrats' talking points on Russia". While she did not explicitly express support for a primary challenge against Amash, she tweeted, "voters in Amash's district strongly support this president".

In September 2020, following the release of audio recordings from February 2020 where President Trump said he was intentionally downplaying the coronavirus, McDaniel defended Trump's handling of the coronavirus. She said, "history will look back on him well as how he handled this pandemic."

By November 2021, the RNC was still covering the legal fees for former president Trump related to investigations into his financial practices in New York.

False claims of fraud in the 2020 election

By May 2020, the RNC had allocated $20 million to oppose Democratic lawsuits to make voting easier during the coronavirus pandemic, in particular expanding vote-by-mail to states that had not adopted it previously. McDaniel accused Democrats of trying to "destroy" and "assault" the integrity of elections. McDaniel said, "a national vote by mail system would open the door to a new set of problems, such as potential election fraud." According to Deseret News, "Election experts say while voting by mail can be abused, it's rare and inconsequential." In general, research has found no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the United States.

In June 2020, McDaniel shared a RNC video warning about voter fraud in the upcoming 2020 election due to expansions of vote-by-mail related to the coronavirus pandemic. The Washington Post fact-checker wrote that the video "tortures the facts to create a narrative of an election about to be stolen. The illegality being satirized here is a phantom. State election officials, in many cases Republicans, are expanding vote-by-mail as a public health precaution to prevent the risk of spreading the coronavirus — not to rig the outcome."

After Joe Biden won the 2020 election, McDaniel claimed without evidence that there was electoral fraud and voter fraud, and had the RNC promote falsehoods and conspiracy theories about the election. At the same time that she was making claims of fraud, President Trump endorsed her to continue to lead the RNC in the January 2021 RNC chairman election.

In 2022, McDaniel led efforts within the RNC to censure Republican members of Congress Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger who had voted to impeach Trump over his incitement of a pro-Trump mob in the U.S. Capitol attack and served on a bipartisan committee to investigate the attack. Within the Republican Party, Cheney had a consistently conservative record, aside from her criticisms of Trump. The censure that McDaniel orchestrated characterized the U.S. Capitol attack as "legitimate political discourse".

Campaign donations controversies

In October 2017 after Harvey Weinstein, a major donor to the Democratic Party, was accused of sexual abuse, McDaniel said that "returning Weinstein's dirty money should be a no-brainer"; the Democratic Party did give away some of Weinstein's contributions. In January 2018, Steve Wynn resigned as RNC finance chairman after he was accused of sexual misconduct and McDaniel came under pressure to return his donations. McDaniel said that Wynn should be allowed "due process" and that his donations would be returned only after the allegations were investigated by the Wynn Resorts board of directors. In May 2019, it was reported that Wynn had donated nearly $400,000 to the national Republican Party, most of it to the RNC, the previous month. In 2017, Wynn and his wife donated $375,000 to the RNC. As of May 2019, none of the money has been returned by the RNC. Steve Wynn has never been convicted of the allegations.

In September 2019, McDaniel emailed Doug Manchester, whose nomination to become Ambassador to the Bahamas was stalled in the Senate, asking for $500,000 in donations to the Republican Party. Manchester responded, noting that his wife had given $100,000 and that his family would "respond" once he was confirmed by the Republican-led Senate to the ambassadorship. Manchester copied the email to aides of two U.S. senators whose support he needed to win confirmation. CBS News described McDaniel's action as a "possible pay-for-play scheme" for the ambassadorship. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported in May 2021 that a federal grand jury had issued a subpoena in a criminal investigation into Manchester's nomination, apparently focused on the RNC, McDaniel and RNC co-chairman Tommy Hicks, and possibly members of Congress. The Union-Tribune reported the investigation began in 2020.

Other controversies

Under McDaniel's leadership, the RNC set up a website in April 2018 which attacked and sought to undermine former FBI Director James Comey and called him "Lyin' Comey". McDaniel said Comey was a liar and a leaker, and said that the RNC would "make sure the American people understand why he has no one but himself to blame for his complete lack of credibility".

Politico reported in November 2018 that McDaniel called on the Republican candidate Martha McSally to be more aggressive during the ballot counting process in the Arizona Senate race. The Arizona Senate race remained undecided for several days after election night while all ballots were being accounted in a close contest. McSally held a lead by the end of election night, but her lead narrowed over the next few days, as more ballots were counted. Reportedly, the McSally campaign was being pressured from McDaniel for not being aggressive enough.

On May 13, 2020, ProPublica reported that big RNC contracts were awarded by McDaniel to companies closely connected to her. Contracts went to her husband's company and companies that supported her 2015 run for the chairmanship of the Republican Party in Michigan.

Later career

On March 22, 2024, NBC News announced that it had hired McDaniel as a contributor. Many of the network's hosts publicly opposed the hiring, due to her false statements about the 2020 election, which included instances of undermining journalism and attacks on journalistic integrity. Four days later, NBC reversed its decision and parted ways with McDaniel.

Personal life

A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she has two children with her husband, Patrick McDaniel. They live in Northville, Michigan.

Notes

  1. As of August 2023, disbarment proceedings are underway in California against John Eastman. These proceedings have been initiated on the basis of claims that Eastman's conduct showcases "moral turpitude, dishonesty, and corruption". It is also alleged that his actions represent "an egregious and unprecedented attack on our democracy", as stated by George Cardona, the State Bar's chief trial counsel. According to Cardona, Eastman has "violated his duty in an attempt to overturn election results for the highest office in the land".

References

  1. ^ Treene, Alayna (December 13, 2022). "The RNC's lopsided power struggle". Axios. Archived from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  2. ^ Heersink, Boris (July 25, 2018). "Trump and the Party-in-Organization: Presidential Control of National Party Organizations". The Journal of Politics. 80 (4): 1474–1482. doi:10.1086/699336. ISSN 0022-3816. S2CID 158762949.
  3. ^ Peters, Jeremy W. (January 13, 2018). "A Romney Who Is Unfailingly Loyal to Trump". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 1, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  4. ^ Beckwith, Ryan Teague (November 11, 2020). "Trump Wants McDaniel to Return as GOP Leader: Election Update". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  5. ^ Weisman, Jonathan; Epstein, Reid J. (February 4, 2022). "G.O.P. Declares Jan. 6 Attack 'Legitimate Political Discourse'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 4, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  6. "Read the Republican Censure of Cheney and Kinzinger". The New York Times. February 4, 2022. Archived from the original on February 4, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  7. Breuninger, Kevin (June 22, 2022). "Trump had a direct role in plan to install fake electors. Key takeaways from the fourth Jan. 6 hearing". CNBC. Archived from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  8. Concepcion, Summer (August 8, 2023). "Ex-Trump lawyer John Eastman seeks to postpone his disbarment proceedings: The request comes after a Trump indictment that referred to six co-conspirators who assisted him in his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, including Eastman". NBC News. Archived from the original on August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  9. Concepcion, Summer (June 20, 2023). "John Eastman faces disbarment proceedings in California over effort to reverse 2020 election: Eastman, Donald Trump's former lawyer, faces disciplinary charges alleging engagement in a plot to push a far-fetched legal strategy arguing that then-Vice President Mike Pence could overturn Joe Biden's electoral victory". NBC News. Archived from the original on August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  10. ^ Peterson, Kristina (March 7, 2024). "Ronna McDaniel Shows Why Nearly Every Alliance With Trump Eventually Frays". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  11. ^ Smith, Allen (February 26, 2024). "RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel announces her resignation". NBC News. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  12. "NBC has cut ties with former RNC head Ronna McDaniel after employee objections, some on the air". AP News. March 26, 2024. Archived from the original on March 27, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  13. @GOP (March 20, 2018). "Happy Birthday @GOPChairwoman!" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 15, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2019 – via Twitter.
  14. ^ Cain, Carol (August 23, 2015). "Latest Romney in politics is not a candidate". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on November 15, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  15. Bush, Dana (August 9, 2017). "Romney McDaniel: One woman's rise to the top of Republican politics". CNN. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  16. ^ Kelsey, Nancy (March 7, 2012). "Q&A With Northville Resident Ronna Romney McDaniel: Mitt Romney's niece, Ronna Romney McDaniel, spearheaded his campaign in Michigan". Northville Patch. Archived from the original on November 15, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  17. ^ Burke, Melissa Nann (February 6, 2018). "Trump puts GOP chief's winning streak on line". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on February 12, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  18. ^ Egan, Paul (February 21, 2015). "Ronna Romney McDaniel elected Michigan's GOP chair". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on November 15, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  19. ^ Spangler, Todd; Gray, Kathleen (July 20, 2016). "Romney McDaniel navigates being Mitt's niece, Trump's delegate". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on November 15, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  20. "Trump considering Ronna Romney McDaniel for post". The Detroit News. November 14, 2016. Archived from the original on November 14, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  21. ^ Gambino, Lauren; Jacobs, Ben (December 14, 2016). "Next RNC chair to be Ronna Romney McDaniel, Mitt Romney's niece". The Guardian. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  22. Haberman, Maggie; Goldmacher, Shane; Swan, Jonathan; Karni, Annie (February 6, 2024). "Ronna McDaniel, R.N.C. Chairwoman, Plans to Step Down". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  23. Jeff Zeleny, Kaitlan Collins, and Daniel Strauss (February 6, 2024). "RNC Chair McDaniel has offered to step down following South Carolina primary". CNN. Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  24. MERIDITH MCGRAW, and ALEX ISENSTADT (February 6, 2024). "Ronna McDaniel set to leave RNC in the spring". Politico. Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  25. Maggie Haberman, Shane Goldmacher, Jonathan Swan, and Annie Karni (February 6, 2024). "Ronna McDaniel, R.N.C. Chairwoman, Plans to Step Down". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. Goldmacher, Shane; Cheney, Kyle (November 14, 2016). "Short list emerges for RNC chair". Politico. Archived from the original on January 5, 2017. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  27. Spangler, Todd (December 14, 2016). "Trump names Michigan's Ronna Romney McDaniel RNC chair". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on December 22, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  28. Nelson, Louis (January 19, 2017). "Ronna Romney McDaniel tapped to be new RNC chair". Politico. Archived from the original on January 19, 2017. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  29. Scherer, Michael; Dawsey, Josh (December 8, 2017). "Trump calls Romney 'a great man,' but works to undermine him and block Senate run". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 9, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  30. Burke, Melissa (January 25, 2019). "Ronna McDaniel elected to second term as RNC chair". detroitnews.com. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  31. Greenwood, Max (January 8, 2021). "Ronna McDaniel reelected as RNC chair". Politico. Archived from the original on January 28, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  32. Lahut, Jake; Petrizzo, Zachary (January 27, 2023). "Mike Lindell Swore He'd Win the RNC Chair Race. He Got Smothered". Daily Beast. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  33. Lerner, Lisa; Weisman, Jonathan (January 27, 2023). "Republicans Re-elect Head of the R.N.C. After a Heated Challenge". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  34. "Trump's MAGA forces threaten to upend vote for RNC chair". AP NEWS. January 23, 2023. Archived from the original on January 23, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  35. Steinhauser, Paul (January 27, 2023). "RNC's Ronna McDaniel declares 'this is my last term as chair". Fox News. Archived from the original on January 28, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  36. "GOP Chair Ronna McDaniel wins party leadership vote". NPR. January 27, 2023. Archived from the original on January 28, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  37. Lee, Michelle Ye Hee; Narayanswamy, Anu (February 1, 2018). "Republican National Committee has huge financial edge heading into 2018 midterms". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  38. Merica, Dan (July 17, 2018). "Republican National Committee tops $200 million in fundraising ahead of midterms". CNN. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  39. "GOP chair: Party will take 'deep data dive' into 2018 losses". Politico. December 11, 2018. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  40. Arnsdorf, Isaac; Dawsey, Josh; Knowles, Hannah (July 2, 2023). "Republican opposition to LGBTQ rights erupts in backlash to Pride Month". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on July 28, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  41. Singman, Brooke (November 8, 2021). "RNC announces 'Pride Coalition,' partnership with Log Cabin Republicans ahead of midterms". Fox News. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  42. McGraw, Meridith (August 16, 2021). "The GOP waves white flag in the same-sex marriage wars". Politico. Archived from the original on November 27, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  43. Riley, John (November 17, 2021). "Republican Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel apologizes for poor communication regarding gay outreach initiative". Metro Weekly. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  44. Ring, Trudy (November 19, 2021). "Republican Leader Backtracks on LGBTQ+ Outreach After Backlash". Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  45. Svitek, Patrick (December 12, 2022). "After disappointing midterms, Texas GOP votes unanimously for a new national leader". The Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  46. Manchester, Julia (November 24, 2021). "RNC pushes back against call for chair's resignation over LGBT outreach". The Hill. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  47. Samuels, Brett (June 13, 2018). "GOP chairwoman: Anyone who doesn't support Trump 'will be making a mistake'". The Hill. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  48. Mazza, Ed (June 14, 2018). "RNC Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel Called Out Over Trump Loyalty Demand". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  49. Garry, Lauren; Ellefson, Lindsey (April 16, 2018). "RNC chairwoman points to Syria strike as proof of Trump's moral leadership". CNN. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  50. Johnson, Eliana; Isenstadt, Alex (December 11, 2017). "How Trump came around to an accused child molester". Politico. Archived from the original on December 13, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  51. Wise, Justin (January 2, 2019). "RNC chair slams her uncle Mitt Romney for Trump criticism". The Hill. Archived from the original on January 2, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  52. Mazza, Ed. "'I Give Up!' Chris Cuomo Surrenders After Kellyanne Conway's Latest Bizarre Claim". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on March 15, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  53. "Trump has 'engaged in impeachable conduct': GOP lawmaker". ABC News. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  54. Andrew Desiderio (May 18, 2019). "Michigan GOP congressman says Trump's conduct impeachable". Politico. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  55. McCaskill, Nolan D. (September 13, 2020). "Trump team says history will vindicate him on coronavirus". Politico. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  56. "RNC agrees to pay some of Trump's legal bills in N.Y. criminal investigation". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  57. ^ Brown, Matthew (May 18, 2020). "GOP calls it voter fraud. Dems call it voting rights. Election battles heat up before November". Deseret News. Archived from the original on May 25, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  58. ^ "Republicans devote $20m and 50,000 people to efforts to restrict voting". The Guardian. May 18, 2020. Archived from the original on May 25, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  59. "Republicans sue California Governor Gavin Newsom, claim his vote-by-mail order is "illegal power grab"". CBS News. May 24, 2020. Archived from the original on May 25, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  60. "Republican groups sue California over expanded mail-in voting". NBC News. May 25, 2020. Archived from the original on May 25, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  61. ^ Rizzo, Salvador (June 24, 2020). "Fact-checking the GOP's 'satirical' vote-by-mail video". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  62. Oprysko, Caitlin (November 6, 2020). "Ronna McDaniel asks for 'time' to produce specific claims of alleged voter fraud". Politico. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  63. Gray, Kathleen; Rutenberg, Jim; Corasaniti, Nick (November 18, 2020). "Michigan Republicans Backtrack After Refusing to Certify Election Results". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  64. "US election: Justice lawyer quits after attorney general orders 'vote fraud' inquiries". BBC News. November 10, 2020. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  65. ^ "The Inside Story of Michigan's Fake Voter Fraud Scandal". Politico. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  66. Martin, Jonathan; Haberman, Maggie (November 22, 2020). "How Trump Hopes to Use Party Machinery to Retain Control of the G.O.P." The New York Times. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  67. ^ "Republicans rebuke Liz Cheney in unprecedented moves". The Washington Post. February 3, 2022. Archived from the original on February 4, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  68. "RNC chair says group will return Steve Wynn's donations if allegations are true". The Guardian. January 30, 2018. Archived from the original on February 1, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  69. Sommer, Will (January 30, 2018). "RNC will keep Wynn money until outside investigation is complete". The Hill. Archived from the original on February 1, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  70. Blake, Aaron (January 30, 2018). "Analysis | Republicans draw a very fine line between Steve Wynn and Harvey Weinstein, while keeping Wynn's money". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 31, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  71. Isenstadt, Alex (May 17, 2019). "Republicans take $400k from casino mogul accused of sexual assault". Politico. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  72. Haberman, Maggie; Karni, Annie (May 19, 2019). "R.N.C. Accepts Money From Steve Wynn, Mogul Accused of Sexual Misconduct". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 19, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  73. "Possible pay-to-play scheme for ambassador role in Trump administration uncovered by CBS News". CBS News. November 18, 2019. Archived from the original on November 19, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  74. Rupar, Aaron (November 18, 2019). "New investigation suggests Republicans took ambassadorial pay-to-play to new levels". Vox. Archived from the original on November 19, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  75. "Manchester's political contributions, ambassador nod are subject of criminal probe". The San Diego Union-Tribune. May 15, 2021. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  76. ^ Zeleny, Jeff. "Exclusive: Inside the GOP plan to discredit Comey". CNN. Archived from the original on April 12, 2018. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  77. Byrnes, Jesse (April 13, 2018). "Tapper asks RNC chief: What gives you 'moral ground' to question Comey's integrity?". The Hill. Archived from the original on April 15, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  78. ^ Arkin, James; Isenstadt, Alex (November 9, 2018). "Sinema expands lead in Arizona Senate race". Politico. Archived from the original on November 12, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  79. Boehm, Jessica (November 12, 2018). "Despite rampant claims, there is no evidence of voter fraud in Arizona". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  80. Leingang, Rachel (November 12, 2018). "Martha McSally concedes to Kyrsten Sinema after 'hard-fought battle'". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  81. ^ Spies, Mike; Pearson, Jake (March 13, 2020). "The RNC Gave Big Contracts to Companies Linked to Its Chairwoman's Husband and Political Backers". ProPublica. Archived from the original on June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  82. Weprin, Alex (March 22, 2024). "NBC News Hires Former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 22, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  83. Lizza, Ryan (March 25, 2024). "NBC's McDaniel mess threatens to explode". Politico.
  84. Barr, Jeremy (March 26, 2024). "NBC reverses decision to hire Ronna McDaniel after on-air backlash". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on March 27, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  85. Glueck, Katie (March 7, 2017). "Can Ronna Romney McDaniel unite a fractured Republican Party?". McClatchy Washington Bureau. Archived from the original on May 31, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2020.

External links

Party political offices
Preceded byBobby Schostak Chair of the Michigan Republican Party
2015–2017
Succeeded byRon Weiser
Preceded byReince Priebus Chair of the Republican National Committee
2017–2024
Succeeded byMichael Whatley
Republican Party
Presidential
tickets
,
national
conventions
,
and
presidential
primaries
Presidential
administrations
U.S. Senate
leaders

and
Conference
chairs
U.S. House
leaders
,
Speakers,
and
Conference
chairs
RNC
Chairs
Chair elections
Parties by
state and
territory
State
Territory
Affiliated
organizations
Congress
Fundraising
groups
Sectional
groups
Factional
groups
Related
Mitt Romney
Politics


Business
Olympics
Bibliography
Family
Categories: