RNC Winter Meeting--January 14, 2011

Priebus Elected RNC Chair on Seventh Round ...1 of 18 >

Members Choose Wisconsin State Chair to Lead Party into the 2012 Elections

January 14, 2011--Meeting at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at National Harbor in Prince George's County, MD for the party's annual winter meeting, the 168 members of the Republican National Committee elected Wisconsin GOP Chairman Reince Priebus to lead the party for the next two years. Five candidates competed for the post, and Priebus was elected on the seventh round.

Priebus had been seen as the frontrunner going into the voting, although not an overwhelming favorite. He had announced support of 40 members, with a simple majority of 85 required for election. He never trailed in the voting. The incumbent RNC Chairman, Michael Steele, dropped out after the fourth round. Despite Republicans' historic successes in the 2010 mid-term elections, Steele was criticized for excessive spending, a significant major donor dropoff, and a number of gaffes; there was almost no expectation that he would be able to hold on to the position. The fact that the three remaining candidates—Maria Cino, Saul Anuzis and Ann Wagner—were unable to unite behind one alternative to Priebus cleared the way for his win.

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th
Priebus +	45	52	54	58	67	80	97
Anuzis +	24	22	21	24	32	37	43
Cino +	32	30	28	29	40	34	28
Wagner +	23	27	32	28	28	17	.
Steele +	44	37	33	28	.	.	.

Note: In the 4th and 5th rounds, one vote was cast for an unidentified candidate not properly nominated.

Newly elected RNC Chairman Reince Priebus faces the immediate challenge of retiring the party's $20 million debt and must restore confidence of major donors and oversee the party as it seeks to reclaim the White House in 2012.

Photos
Candidates and Campaigns: Steele, Wagner, Cino, Anuzis, Priebus.
Scenes around the Hall: a, b, c.
Voting: Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7.
The New Chairman Takes Charge: a, b.