What Happened:
Lara Trump has unanimously been voted as co-chair of the Republican National Convention (RNC). The vote took place around 12 p.m. EST and arguably secured Donald Trump’s hold on the Republican Party. Michael Whatley, a North Carolina Republican, and Trump endorsed candidate for the position, will be replacing Ronna McDaniel.
The former RNC chairman, McDaniel, stepped down after the South Carolina primary, as she promised a few months ago. The Republican Party had been facing underperformance in key states, which led to some of her colleagues suggesting she step aside. Whatley and Lara both promise wins, starting with flipping the Senate and adding to the Republican majority.
The Details:
Lara Trump is the daughter-in-law of President Trump. She is replacing Drew McKissick, while NC GOP Chairman Michael Whately replaced McDaniel. Both of these chair members support President Trump and will align the RNC with his goals. Fox News analysts say “the Republican Party will formally once again become what in reality it has been for eight years—the Party of Trump.”
Lara has claimed they are focused on winning, something that Republicans have struggled to do. She also claims that she is not focused on Trump, but also on the values of the Republican Party. She took the opportunity to call for election integrity, while also stating that her primary role will be fundraising and media appearances. McDaniel’s parting words called for unification in the party, saying, “We cannot win if we are divided.”
The party itself has already started rallying around Trump, with major endorsements such as Mitch McConnell and his allies rolling in after Nikki Haley dropped out of the race. Republican’s remain hopeful that the party will unify when it counts, but some are hesitant.
What’s Next:
Trump endorsements fair relatively well in elections, with about an 82% success rate, however, many of the endorsements are often incumbents. The party is likely beginning to strategize around the Trump camp, as he is the assumed nominee.
Lara Trump has already stated she will spend “every penny” to get President Trump reelected, and now that he is the only nominee, he can use the money from the RNC to campaign. Trump has also stated that they will not use the money from the RNC in the legal battles.
He currently faces 91 charges in four separate cases and was also demanded to pay $355 million in a civil fraud case, while also posting a bond on a defamation case he lost earlier in the year.
