AFP: America’s deeply divided Republican Party voted Friday to keep its Donald Trump-backed national committee chair in place, in an election seen as a test of the former president’s sway. The GOP has been in disarray since a predicted “red wave” failed to materialize in November elections, with the party eking out only a slim majority in the House, and failing to wrest control of the Senate from the Democrats.
Senior figures blamed the poor showing on the caliber of candidates backed by Trump, many of whom appeared qualified solely by their endorsement of his discredited election conspiracy theories.The party’s 168-strong national committee huddled Friday at a luxury resort in Dana Point, California, where incumbent chairwoman Ronna McDaniel — who was understood to be Trump’s favored choice — fended off a challenge from a lawyer backed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
“With all of us united, the Democrats are gonna hear us in 2024,” said McDaniel, who garnered 111 votes against 51 for Harmeet Dhillon and just four for conspiracy-peddling pillow salesman Mike Lindell.
Trump took to his Truth Social microblog shortly after the result saying: “Congratulations to Ronna McDaniel on her big WIN as RNC CHAIR.”