By Abraham Kenmore
SCDailyGazette.com
COLUMBIA – South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick is stepping down from his position with the national party as the party leadership turns over.
McKissick announced his resignation as co-chair of the Republican National Committee on Monday. RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel also announced her resignation Monday. Both will be stepping down on March 8, during the RNC “Spring Training” in Houston.
“I’m honored to have had the privilege to serve as RNC Co-Chair for this past year, as well as to have worked with so many grassroots leaders to help make our party successful,” McKissick said in his statement. “I look forward to working with the RNC and President Trump’s team to make sure that we WIN this November.”
McKissick was elected as co-chair of the RNC in January of 2023, and has led the South Carolina party since 2017.
McDaniel said her stepping down would allow “our nominee to select a chair of their choosing,” and had already announced she would be resigning after Saturday’s primary in South Carolina.
Former president Donald Trump is not yet the party nominee, but has won every contest so far against his sole remaining rival, Nikki Haley. Any changes in the party leadership would have to be approved by the RNC’s governing body.
Trump has said he wants Michael Whatley, chair of the North Carolina GOP and current RNC general counsel, to serve as RNC chair and his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, to serve as co-chair. Lara Trump has suggested that GOP voters would support the RNC covering Trump’s legal fees in his various civil and criminal cases. Trump owes roughly half a billion dollars in legal fines and fees.
Whatley appeared at Trump’s election night watch party in Columbia on Saturday.
“We gave him our endorsement and it looks to me like he is going on to the national Republican party as the boss,” Trump said during his remarks. “And he’s going to be working with Lara, and we may be putting Kellyanne (Conway) in the group too.”
Conway was an aid to Trump when he was in office in the White House.
Abraham Kenmore is a reporter covering elections, health care and more. He joins the S.C. Daily Gazette from The Augusta Chronicle, where he reported on Georgia legislators, military and housing issues.
