MADISON, Wis. — Two fresh faces at the helm of the Republican National Committee have left some to wonder what the change in leadership means for states, including Wisconsin, which is not only an electoral battleground but the home of the political party’s presidential nominating convention this summer.
So far, new leadership isn’t bringing new concerns.
Friday’s news doesn’t come as much of a surprise.
Ronna McDaniel made clear she would step down after Super Tuesday, and leaders in the Badger State said they have been preparing and are ready for the next chapter.
Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Brian Schimming said it’s business as usual as McDaniel stepped aside Friday to make way for Trump loyalists, including the former president’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, who will serve as co-chair.
Schimming traveled to Houston, Texas on Friday for the RNC’s meeting and nominated North Carolina GOP Chair Michael Whatley to the post.
“Everything is really the same,” Schimming explained earlier this week. “There will probably be some changes in direction on a couple of things, but I’ve been talking a lot about the recruitment of poll workers, which we’ve recruited a record number of 5,500, about early vote, we need to get people to early vote, which has traditionally not been something Republicans were that excited about, but we’re full into in now. And so, for me, I don’t expect to jump off the plane and go, ‘Wow, everything’s different.’ I think it’s going to be largely the same.”
Things will also be largely the same for the summer convention in Wisconsin.
“The RNC is continuing our hard work to put on a great convention in Milwaukee this summer to nominate the next President of the United States,” 2024 RNC CEO Elise Dickens said in a statement Friday.
“Really, for Wisconsin, if I had any concerns, it would be me who would have to have the concerns because we have the national convention here, but I have literally not lost a second’s worth of sleep on it,” Schimming added.