Distinguished elected Republicans, influential donors and conservative grassroots activists are pushing for Lee Zeldin to turn out to be the subsequent Republican Nationwide Committee chairman — together with the chief of the Texas GOP, who credited Zeldin’s robust marketing campaign for New York governor with securing Republican management of the Home of Representatives.
“We underperformed nationally. There have been strategic missteps,” Republican Occasion of Texas Chairman Matt Rinaldi instructed The Submit Thursday.
“However in New York, Lee Zeldin went into communities that Republicans don’t historically go into and talked about crime and inflation. He overperformed in blue areas. He exceeded expectations.”
Zeldin misplaced to Democrat Kathy Hochul by simply over 327,000 votes out of greater than 5.7 million solid — and his robust efficiency on the prime of the ticket within the battleground suburbs helped Republicans win 4 extra Home seats in New York to push the GOP previous the 218-seat benchmark.
“Lee Zeldin received us the Home majority and he wasn’t even the RNC chair,” stated Rinaldi. “Think about what he can do if he's the RNC chair.”
In keeping with Rinaldi, it’s time for incumbent RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel to maneuver on, given the failure to ship an anticipated crimson wave within the Nov. 8 midterm elections.
“While you fail to succeed in expectations — to go 16-0 — and go 8-8, you hearth the coach,” stated Rinaldi, using a soccer analogy of which his fellow Texans certainly approve.
My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell introduced his personal candidacy for RNC chair on Monday, although his bid is broadly thought of an extended shot.
Rinaldi stated the GOP’s activist class are largely behind Zeldin and the celebration brass needs to be aware of that help.
Zeldin has not formally thrown his hat into the ring, however expressed his curiosity in a Nov. 17 letter to RNC members. So as to unseat McDaniel, who has been in her publish since 2017, Zeldin would wish the help of 86 of the committee’s 168 voting delegates.
Jay Shepard, an RNC delegate from Vermont, tweeted Nov. 18 in response to Zeldin’s letter: “I'm certainly one of 168 voting members of the Republican Nationwide Committee (RNC). I believe Ronna [McDaniel} has done a good job as our chair. However, I believe Congressman Lee Zeldin will do an exceptional job, So I will be supporting Zeldin for chair.”
An RNC delegate from New Jersey, Bill Palatucci, told The Post he’s in Zeldin’s corner if he runs.
“I’m tired of losing. The number one job of the RNC chair is to win. We didn’t do well in 2020 and we didn’t do well in 2022,” said Palutucci, a confidante of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. “You’ve got to fire the manager when the ball club doesn’t win. I spoke to Lee. He ran a great race for governor in a tough state. I told him if he runs I’ll support him.”
Arizona conservative activist Tyler Bowyer tweeted the day after Zeldin’s letter: “Since Elon [Musk] is doing [Twitter] polls, I figured I would as effectively additionally. Right here is my query: When you’re a registered Republican, do you help Ronna McDaniel for an additional time period as RNC Chair or would you like Congressman Lee Zeldin?
With greater than 74,000 votes in Bowyer’s unscientific ballot, Zeldin had 97.7% help.
McDaniel launched her personal letter Nov. 18, saying 101 RNC delegates have been already backing her reelection bid — regardless of her overseeing the lack of the Home in 2018, the defeat of former President Donald Trump and the lack of the Senate within the 2020 cycle and extreme underperformance by Republicans in 2022.
Zeldin stated he was not intimidated, telling The Submit a variety of individuals who signed the letter known as him afterward and stated they weren't dedicated to McDaniel — and have been even misled into signing it.
“They don’t really feel obligated to her,” Zeldin instructed The Submit.
He additionally stated just a few of the signatories will probably be changed as state GOP chairs and will be unable to vote for McDaniel.
“The letter didn't have a deterrent impact on me,” Zeldin stated.
The outgoing Lengthy Island congressman stated he is not going to decide on operating till after Tuesday’s runoff election for Senate in Georgia, the place Republican Hershel Walker is dealing with off towards Democratic incumbent Raphael Warnock.
In the meantime, Zeldin stated some outstanding GOP donors — together with billionaire Stephen Schwarzman, CEO and chairman of the enormous monetary funding agency The Blackstone Group and steel mogul Andrew Sabin have indicated they'll contribute closely to the RNC if he's elected chairman and have been much less inclined to take action if he wasn’t.
The RNC chair vote is anticipated to be held on the committee’s winter assembly in January.
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