- Republican National Committee 2011 « RNC Chairman's Race
RNC Chairman's Race Priebus Elected on Seventh Ballot: Full Report Here
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www.rncdebate.org | gentrycollins.com
(withdrew) |
Five Vying for Post
[updated Jan. 3, 2011]
Despite
Republicans'
strong showing in
the 2010 midterm elections, there is now a contest to lead the
party
into the 2012 elections. RNC Chairman Michael Steele, who was elected
on the sixth ballot in January 2009, has committed a number of gaffes,
and members are also concerned over excessive
spending
as well as
inadequate fundraising among major donors
during his tenure. Steele
surprised many observers by announcing
on Dec. 13 that he is seeked a second term. Five
candidates announced challenges to Steele and one has since
withdrawn.
Members of the RNC will
elect the
chairman at the party's Winter Meeting to be held in the DC area on
January
12-15, 2011. Although the race ultimately will come down to
getting votes of 85 of the 168 RNC members, various constituencies are
seeking to influence the selection. The Republican
National Conservative Caucus (RNCC), a 501(c)(4) non-profit formed by
conservative RNC members, developed a list of “13
Leadership
Criteria
for
RNC
Chairman
Candidates.” FreedomWorks, chaired
by
former House Minorty Leader Dick Armey, wants to
"select Republican leadership sympathetic to the tea
party tenets of limited government and more individual
freedom." The RNCC and FreedomWorks organized a public
candidate
forum on
December
1,
and
the
RNCC
held private meetings with candidates the next
day.
Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform, the pro-life Susan B.
Anthony List and The Daily Caller
are co-sponsoring a
candidate debate on January
3. (SBA List posted interviews with the candidates and urged that
"the next RNC Chair be able to articulate the pro-life message laid out
in
the Republican Party platform and be ready to work with the pro-life
movement and its leaders to advance pro-life candidates.") >
- Michael Steele, the incumbent chairman, is highlighting Republican successes in 2010, "a watershed year for Republicans and our conservative, limited-government movement," that has "laid the framework for winning the White House." He vows a more disciplined, streamlined operation at the RNC. +
- Former Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis, who finished third in the last election for RNC chair, announced his candidacy on Nov. 12. Anuzis wrote on his website, "As Chairman of the RNC, I'll do the work behind the scenes—not out in front of the camera—to restore the faith of the committee's supporters, and empower a grassroots army with the tools and technologies to end the Obama presidency before he destroys our country." +
- Ann Wagner, former chair of the Missouri Republican Party and a former RNC Co-Chair, announced on Nov. 29. In her announcement she noted, "My lifetime of service to the Republican Party—a record of proven conservative leadership and results—has prepared me for this job." +
- Wisconsin Republican Chair Reince Priebus, who had been a key
ally of Michael Steele in 2009 and served as the party's general
counsel, announced
on Dec. 6 in a letter and video.
Priebus
emphasized
Republican
successes
in
Wisconsin
in
the
2010
elections
and
pledged
"to
rebuild
the
RNC
to
a
position
of
great
strength." +
- Maria Cino, whose experience includes president and CEO of the 2008 Republican National Convention, deputy chairman at the RNC in the 2004 cycle, political director on Gov. George Bush's 2000 presidential campaign, and executive director of the NRCC in the 1994 cycle, entered the race on Dec. 10. Her biography notes she "offers the broadest, deepest national political experience of any candidate in recent history." +
Former RNC political
director Gentry Collins, whose
sharply critical Nov. 16 resignation letter cast further doubts on
Steele's leadership, entered the race on Dec. 13 promising
"competence, confidence, experience and execution." + Collins ended his bid on Jan.
2, 2011.
Former RNC chaiman Mike
Duncan,
who
headed
the
party
from
Jan.
2007-Jan.
2009
and
subsequently
became
chairman
of
American
Crossroads, considered running and participated in the Dec. 1 candidate
forum
but ruled a run for the chairmanship out in a Dec. 17 statement.
Former
U.S.
Sen.
Norm
Coleman
(MN),
who
is
CEO
of
the
American Action
Network and sister 501(c)(3) American Action Forum, was also mentioned,
but stated he would not run if Steele did. Connecticut
GOP
Chairman Chris Healy
considered
running but ruled it out on Dec. 8.
Some Tea Party activists urged former
Gov.
Sarah Palin to seek the post,
but she ruled it out on Dec. 6.