Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Monday it's "smart" for Ronna McDaniel to step down as chairwoman of the Republican National Committee (RNC).
"I want to thank Ronna for her service," McCarthy said on Fox News' America's Newsroom. "I think this is a smart move on her part."
McCarthy added that he liked the candidate Donald Trump is supporting as McDaniel's replacement: Michael Whatley, the chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party, along with daughter-in-law Lara Trump as co-chair.
"I think this is retooling, rebuilding and beginning that election we're gonna have in November," McCarthy said.
He continued: "I like what I'm seeing. I want to see more unity within the party.... We need to reach out and have more people join with us, from independents and Democrats that want to really look at the America they want to see going forward, they want to see for themselves and their children."
Newsweek reached out to the RNC via email for comment.
The Context
On Monday, McDaniel announced she was planning to resign from her RNC position on March 8.
"It has been the honor and privilege of my life to serve the Republican National Committee for seven years as chairwoman to elect Republicans and grow our party," she said.
She went on: "I have decided to step aside at our spring training on March 8 in Houston to allow our nominee to select a chair of their choosing. The RNC has historically undergone change once we have a nominee, and it has always been my intention to honor that tradition. I remain committed to winning back the White House and electing Republicans up and down the ballot in November."
What We Know
Trump, the leading Republican candidate in the presidential race, had previously called for McDaniel to be replaced.
"I think she did great when she ran Michigan for me. I think she did OK, initially in the RNC," Trump said during an interview on Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures earlier this month. "I would say right now there'll probably be some changes made."
Views
Other Republican officials applauded McDaniel's work at the RNC, such as House Majority Whip Tom Emmer.
"Ronna was a tremendous partner during the last two elections, where we flipped 24 House seats and won a Republican House majority for just the third time since 1954," he said. "Our success at the House level would not have been possible without Ronna and the RNC's complete buy-in on our mission."
What's Next
With McDaniel leaving the RNC post next month, Whatley has the crucial endorsement of Trump, who won this past Saturday's South Carolina primary, along with contests in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada, and looks certain to be the party's presidential nominee.
Lara Trump is the wife of the former president's son Eric Trump.
Update 2/26/24, 10:14 and 10:55 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with further information and background.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Matthew Impelli is a Newsweek staff writer based in New York. His focus is reporting social issues and crime. In ... Read more
