Michigan GOP leader Ronna Romney McDaniel named to national role
- by Virginia Carter
- in World Media
- — Dec 18, 2016
As widely rumored for a week, President-elect Donald Trump today gave his nod to Michigan Republican Party Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel taking the reins of the GOP national committee next year.
Trump is praising McDaniel's loyalty "to our movement" and says, "I look forward to her serving as the party's chairman in 2017".
"Ronna has been extremely loyal to our movement and her efforts were critical to our tremendous victory in MI, and I know she will bring the same passion to the Republican National Committee", he added. Trump was the first GOP presidential candidate to take the state since George H.W. Bush.
McDaniel has also been active in support for Trump on his victory lap.
The RNC is expected to vote on a new chairman during its winter meeting January 17-21 in Washington. Her father Scott Romney is the governor's brother.
Gov. Rick Snyder in a statement called her "an excellent choice" to lead the RNC and congratulated her on her selection.
"In addition to being a key leader in helping us win big in OH, I am confident he is going to work very hard to continue the excellent work the RNC has done of building the Republican Party up to a record level of strength", Trump said.
"Ronna McDaniel, what a great job you and your people have done!" Given the relatively short resumé McDaniel has at the state level, one has to conclude that either she's a shooting star, Trump wants a good relationship with Romney despite going a different direction at State, or both.
Fox News reported last week that Ronna Romney McDaniel was likely to be tapped for RNC chairwoman.
Bob Paduchik, Mr Trump's campaign manager in OH, another crucial battleground in the election which voted Republican, was named as deputy co-chair of the RNC. Trump praised Paduchik "for helping us win big in OH", another key Midwestern state for the Republican president-elect's victory.
"They said a Republican could never win Michigan", McDaniel told the audience in Grand Rapids Friday.
President-elect Donald Trump announced McDaniel's appointment on Wednesday as the RNC deputy chair.
As Trump's incoming White House chief of staff, Priebus, who guided the at times unwieldy Trump through the general election, supported McDaniel as his replacement.
Current RNC chairman Reince Priebus lobbied Trump heavily to pick her.
Romney McDaniel's elevation leads an opening in the state Republican Party.
Trump's choices for RNC chairman and other party leadership positions carry huge sway with its members, who will vote on the team early next year.
