“As we assess the midterms and plan for 2024, we are gathering a diverse range of respected leaders in our movement to join together and help chart a winning course in the years to come,” RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel said in a statement to Politico. “I am thrilled that this talented group of Republicans will be shoulder to shoulder with us as we work to grow our party, hold Democrats accountable, and elect Republicans.”
Amongst the panel members are Trump administration official Kellyanne Conway, Alabama Sen.-elect Katie Britt, Texas Rep.-elect Monica De La Cruz, Michigan Rep.-elect John James, and Blake Masters—who lost the Arizona Senate run that many people thought would’ve been easy for him to secure. In his case, it’s interesting to see him conducting a review as a panelist as opposed to being one of the campaigns being analyzed as the problem. If the party is trying to analyze issues in midterms and strategy, picking those who lost what many considered “easy” runs is probably not the best way to go about it.
Blake lost his bid to unseat incumbent Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly. As a MAGA candidate, many noted Blake failed to resonate with voters, despite predictions of Kelly’s growing unpopularity.
“Our party needs to modernize. We’re fighting against Big Tech, the media, and now, the Democrats’ GOTV early voting machine,” Trump-endorsed Masters said in a statement despite his loss, according to Politico. Trump also supported claims that Masters had his race stolen, even though Arizona officials pushed back on election fraud allegations.
According to Politico, the plan to create a panel came as McDaniel continues to face growing criticism from Republicans after a lackluster finish and barely gaining control of the House.
Former New York gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin recently said he is considering a run for McDaniel’s position—as is MyPillow founder Mike Lindell.
“I am 100% running for the RNC Chairman against Ronna McDaniel,” Lindell said. “One of the big donors said to me, he said, ‘Mike, everybody wants you to be head of the RNC, some of them just don’t know it yet.’”
Others are criticizing Republican leadership, including South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who suggested it may be time to replace McDaniel.
“We really have a responsibility to message what Republican policies bring to this country,” Noem said. “And I don’t know of a party that can continue to lose like we have and keep their jobs. Everybody needs to evaluate what we are doing, and is it effective, and are we messaging truly that our policies work.”
But despite the backlash she is facing for her lack of leadership, McDaniel’s allies say they are confident she has the support needed to win reelection when the 168-member committee gathers for its annual winter meeting in January. According to Politico, the committee is expected to publish the findings sometime during the first half of 2023.
