The Republican National Committee announced Wednesday that President-elect Donald Trump has backed Michigan Republican Party Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel to succeed Reince Priebus as chair.
President-elect Donald Trump, along with Priebus and Trump advisor Steve Bannon, praised Romney McDaniel in a press release announcing she’d been named RNC deputy chair (Priebus remains chair until he enters the White House as Trump’s chief of staff next month). The release, as well as their statements, notably omitted “Romney” from her name.
“I’m excited to have a highly effective leader in Ronna McDaniel as RNC Deputy Chair and I look forward to her serving as the Party’s Chairman in 2017,” said President-elect Donald J. Trump. “Ronna has been extremely loyal to our movement and her efforts were critical to our tremendous victory in Michigan, and I know she will bring the same passion to the Republican National Committee.”
Romney McDaniel, who is former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s niece, acknowledged the announcement on Twitter:
Honored to have the support of President-elect @realDonaldTrump and excited to work with RNC members to ensure we maintain our GOP victories
— Ronna RomneyMcDaniel (@RRMGOP) December 14, 2016
The release also named Trump for President Ohio State Director Bob Paduchik as RNC deputy co-chair.