Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) today helped to shake up the race to chair of the Republican National Committee, supporting challenger Harmeet Dhillon’s plan to take the party headquarters out of Washington.
Interviewed at 11 a.m. on the Charlie Kirk Show, DeSantis cited lackluster GOP success in the last three elections in his call for “new blood” at the RNC.
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“I think we need a change,” he told Kirk. “I think we need to get some new blood in the RNC. I like what Harmeet Dhillon has said about getting the RNC out of D.C. Why would you want to have your headquarters in the most Democrat city in America? It’s more Democrat than San Francisco.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis: It’s time for a change at the RNC
“You know, I think we need change,” DeSantis said. “I think we
need to get some new blood in the RNC.”https://t.co/G55RkC0G3E— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) January 26, 2023
While DeSantis noted Dhillon’s comments on Washington, she has also recently said that she would move to Washington for the post. Also, it is notable that Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) has praised McDaniel’s work in Florida.
The election between incumbent Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, Dhillon, a San Francisco lawyer who represented former President Donald Trump in Jan. 6 cases, and MyPillow boss Mike Lindell occurs tomorrow.
.@GOPChairwoman has played a major role in helping turn Florida red and fighting for conservative values across the country.
Thank you Ronna for all you’ve done to help elect strong Republicans in the Sunshine state!
— Rick Scott (@ScottforFlorida) January 26, 2023
All three sides have touted big endorsements, but for Dhillon, the comments from DeSantis may mean the most. So far, Trump has not given an endorsement.
In the interview, DeSantis, considered the only viable alternative in the 2024 GOP primary race to Trump, said that poor showings by the party in 2018, 2020, and 2022 call for change, though he did not directly blame McDaniel.
“Of all three of those, ‘22 was probably the worst, given the political environment of a very unpopular president in Biden,” he said. “That was an environment that’s tailor-made to make big gains,” he added.
He said that without change at the top of the party, winning in 2024 will be difficult.
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“I think it’s going to be very difficult to energize people to want to give money, to want to volunteer their time with the RNC if they don’t see a change in direction,” the newly reelected governor said.
Kirk welcomed the governor’s comments, telling Secrets, “Gov. DeSantis is listening to the grassroots, which overwhelmingly wants to see a change at the RNC. 90% + of Republican voters want change, they want the consultant class to take a back seat to the base, and he understands that. My hope is that the 168 members of the RNC hear what he has to say loud and clear.”
