Not His Time Yet: Popular Candidate Calls Off Run For RNC Chair Leadership

By Jean Robor | Friday, 09 December 2022 02:10 PM
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Views 7.8K
Not His Time Yet: Popular Candidate Calls Off Run For RNC Chair Leadership

Representative Lee Zeldin, who almost unseated incumbent New York Governor Kathy Hochul in the November General Election, is stepping aside from aspirations to run for Republican National Committee (RNC) chair.

According to Fox News, he had been mulling over the idea for a month before deciding against it.

Zeldin tweeted, “RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel should not run for a 4th term. I won’t be running for RNC Chair at this time with McDaniel’s re-election pre-baked by design, but that doesn’t mean she should even be running again. It’s time the GOP elects new leadership! It’s time for fresh blood!”

Next month during the GOP’s winter meeting, the RNC membership will vote on the next chair. According to McDaniel’s campaign spokesperson speaking to Fox News, most of the 168 RNC committee members have indicated their support of re-electing McDaniel as chair.

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The Washington Examiner reported that in his statement, Zeldin stressed that change in RNC leadership was needed because “the grassroots frustrated, deflated, and defeated.” He believes McDaniel should allow new leadership to emerge to appease Republican voters. Zeldin said, “Her greatest service to the Republican Party at this time would be to make room for a new chair.”

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There is some disappointment as there have been several races lost under McDaniel’s leadership as chair. The most recent failed election was Republican Herschel Walker losing to Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock in Georgia’s runoff. While she does not face any opposition from Zeldin, McDaniel has two opponents to her re-election: Mike Lindell, MyPillow CEO, and RNC committeewoman Harmeet Dhillon, an attorney.

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Dhillon announced her bid for the chair Monday night on the Fox News Channel. She served as a legal advisor to the Trump campaign. On Tucker Carlson Tonight, Dhillon said, “Republicans are tired of losing, and I think that we really need to radically reshape our leadership in order to win.”

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Dhillon says Republicans need to change how they fundraise and how “they deliver their ballots to the ballot boxes.” While others are contemplating throwing their hat in the ring for the RNC chair, she will not need to go against the popular Zeldin, who dropped out of the running.

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A staunch Trump supporter, Zeldin was an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve and an attorney before being elected to the House in 2014.

In his bid for governor, Zeldin made the best showing for a Republican in New York state in 20 years and helped to boost fellow Republicans to victory in U.S. House races. Those wins flipped blue seats to red and helped capture the House majority for Republicans.

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