Mike Lindell announced his bid to run as chairman of the Republican National Committee on Monday, mounting a challenge to Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, whom he says has “failed” the GOP after the party’s lackluster midterm performance.
His announcement comes just days after the MyPillow CEO hinted at a long-shot bid to run against McDaniel, noting Republicans need someone who “knows how to run a business” at the helm of the party.
‘GOD WILLING’: MIKE LINDELL FLOATS BID FOR RNC CHAIRMAN AFTER GOP LOSSES
“I am 100% running for the RNC chairman against Ronna McDaniel. 100%,” Lindell told Steve Bannon on his show War Room on Monday. “I’m all in, Steve.”
My Pillow’s Mike Lindell says he’s running against @GOPChairwoman for RNC chair
“I am 100% running for the RNC chairman against Ronna McDaniel. 100%, I’m all in, Steve.” pic.twitter.com/z3LhuNBrru
— Will Steakin (@wsteaks) November 28, 2022
Lindell has become a prominent name among conservative circles due to his unfounded claims of election fraud during the 2020 presidential cycle, attracting a number of lawsuits against him. However, the MyPillow CEO has criticized party leaders such as McDaniel for not taking such claims seriously.
Lindell also cited having widespread support from donors and members of the RNC, noting one donor told him, “‘Mike,’ he said, ‘Everyone wants you to be head of the RNC, some of them just don’t know it yet.’”
“Not only am I going to win, but we are going to — it’s going to change real fast,” Lindell told Bannon. “We’re going to get our country righted real quick.”
The committee is scheduled to elect its next leader during its winter meeting in January. McDaniel has signaled she’d run for reelection, and a letter circulated by about 100 members of the RNC showed they would back her run. When asked to respond to Lindell’s challenge, a spokesperson for McDaniel’s reelection team referred the Washington Examiner back to this letter, citing the widespread support among the committee.
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If elected, it would be McDaniel’s fourth term as co-chairwoman of the RNC. The incumbent could face challenges from other Republicans, such as Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), who has also floated the idea of challenging McDaniel. Zeldin lost his gubernatorial bid against Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) during the midterm cycle. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem recently suggested McDaniel should be replaced after midterm losses.
