- The Washington Times - Friday, January 8, 2021

The Republican National Committee on Friday chose continuity over change by reelecting Ronna McDaniel as chair and Tommy Hicks as vice chair.

The vote dashed the hopes of some RNC members who saw the leadership elections as a prime opportunity for the national party to reassert some independence from President Trump.

Mr. Trump had endorsed Mrs. McDaniel. Mr. Hicks is a close confidante of the Trump family.

The leadership election came days after a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol and after the GOP suffered embarrassing losses in the Georgia Senate runoff races.

Democrats are now poised to control The White House and both chambers of Congress for the first time since 2010.

Mrs. McDaniel ran unopposed. Mr. Hicks easily fended off challenges from Bruce Hough of Utah, Jay Shepard of Vermont and Doyle Webb of Arkansas.

Mr. Hicks received 95 of the 161 ballots cast.

Mr. Trump called into the RNC meeting the day after the mayhem in Washington and was met with applause and cheers from a number of members.

• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.

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