RNC votes Michael Whatley, Lara Trump into party leadership

The Republican National Committee elected North Carolina politician Michael Whatley to replace Ronna McDaniel as party chair on Friday after a vote in Houston. Lara Trump, daughter-in-law to former President Donald Trump, was also tapped to serve as co-chair. Trump handpicked the pair to serve, seemingly cementing his role as the party’s 2024 presidential candidate. The party is set to finalize Trump’s nomination at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wis., this July.

Why is McDaniel being replaced? She announced her intention to step down last week after heavy criticism from the former president. She said she wanted to “allow our nominee to select a chair of their choosing.” Trump first picked McDaniel for the position in 2017, which she thanked him for in her outgoing remarks. She also urged Republicans to stop in-party fighting. “We cannot win if we’re divided,” she said. “If we spend our time attacking each other, we guarantee that the Democrats are going to win.”

What are Whatley and Lara’s plans for the party? After the vote, Whatley emphasized the importance of election security, describing the party’s aim to “ensure that it is easy to vote and hard to cheat.” He also ensured the party would “work tirelessly every single day to elect our nominee, Donald J. Trump.” In her remarks, Lara also emphasized election security, describing that the election “isn't just about right versus left…It's about good versus evil.” She also discussed the importance of campaign funding, holding up a newly-donated $100,000 check to the audience.

What is the other side of the aisle saying? Democratic National Committee Rapid Response Director Alex Floyd responded to Whatley’s election by stating, “The RNC poured gasoline on a dumpster fire.” Floyd also called Lara’s co-chair appointment a “nepo-title,” saying she rejects “roughly one-third of Republican primary voters” for not supporting the MAGA agenda.

Dig deeper: Read Carolina Lumetta’s report on former RNC co-chairman Drew McKissick leaving office.