Who is Ronna McDaniel, RNC Chairwoman?
McDaniel just got re-elected as Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair
Ronna McDaniel, the current Chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC), is the niece of Republican Senator Mitt Romney of Utah. Despite their familial relationship, McDaniel and Romney have had a somewhat contentious political relationship in recent years, reflecting the divisions within the Republican Party.
McDaniel was re-elected to the position for a fourth term this year. CNN’s Dana Bash recently interviewed her. She was asked what rules would be implemented to ensure that the Republican candidate who wins the primary gets the support of all the other losing presidential nominee contenders. She answered that every candidate in the Republican primaries would have to sign a pledge promising to do so. Given the shenanigans we saw during the 2016 primaries, this appears to be a tall order.
One key tension between McDaniel and Romney has been their differing views on former President Donald Trump. Romney has been a vocal critic of Trump and was among the few Republicans to vote to impeach him during the Senate trial in early 2020. On the other hand, McDaniel has been a staunch supporter of Trump and has been credited with helping shape the party’s messaging around the former president.
The differences between McDaniel and Romney have also been reflected in their respective roles within the Republican Party. McDaniel has been a critical figure in the party’s efforts to expand its support base and win elections at all levels of government. In contrast, Romney has been seen as a centrist figure within the party, willing to work across the aisle to solve pressing policy challenges.
Despite these differences, McDaniel and Romney have emphasized the importance of party unity and sought to downplay their political differences publicly. In an interview with the Washington Post in 2020, McDaniel stated that while she and Romney had different views on some issues, they remained close as family members and political allies.
In recent years, political observers and commentators have closely watched McDaniel and Romney’s political relationship, reflecting the divisions and tensions within the Republican Party. The relationship between the two will continue to be of interest as the party seeks to navigate a challenging political landscape in the coming years.
It’s worth noting that Romney and McDaniel’s political relationship has also been shaped by their respective roles within the Republican Party. Romney is a sitting senator and a former presidential candidate and is seen as a critical figure within the party establishment. On the other hand, McDaniel is a relatively new figure on the national political stage. It has been seen as a rising star within the party, particularly in her fundraising and organizational efforts as Chair of the RNC.
The tension between Romney and McDaniel reflects a broader debate within the Republican Party about its direction and identity in the post-Trump era. While some within the party have called for a return to more traditional conservative values and a focus on policy solutions, others have emphasized the importance of maintaining the party’s populist base and the importance of loyalty to former President Trump.
In this context, the relationship between McDaniel and Romney will likely remain complex and multifaceted, reflecting the broader divisions and tensions within the Republican Party. While they have sought to downplay their political differences and emphasize the importance of party unity, the two will continue to represent different strands of thought within the party as it seeks to navigate the challenges of the current political landscape.
