The Republican National Committee (RNC) is in terrible shape as it prepares for a critical presidential election last year. The reign of RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel must immediately be brought to an end.
Last week, the fundraising total of 2023 was released by both major political parties. The RNC was only able to raise $87.2 million, while the Democrat National Committee (DNC) has raised $119.9 million.
The DNC ended 2023 with a balance of $21 million with zero debt, while the RNC had only $8 million in cash and an outstanding debt of $1.8 million.
These results were the worst in the Republican party in a decade, with significantly less than $241.1 million raised in 2019, the last financial report before a presidential election year. Despite the massive fundraising totals in 2019, the RNC wasn’t prepared for the Democratic Party’s hijinks in the 2020 election.
To make matters worse, the Dems’ congressional committees outraised their GOP counterparts by $26 million in 2023. The Democrats also won the online funding battle, as their nonprofit political action committee (PAC) raised more than the online GOP organization by $323.2 million in 2023.
These are disastrous totals for Republicans, who should be ready for victory after the dreadful tenure of President Joe Biden. The GOP, instead, is in significant trouble with only nine months to go before the 2024 presidential election, which will determine both the control of Congress and the White House.
These numbers show GOP donors have lost confidence in Chairwoman McDaniel and the party’s establishment.
In an interview on Fox News, former President Donald Trump indicated he was frustrated and predicted there would “probably be some changes made” at the RNC. While he said McDaniel did “OK initially,” today, “people are not looking at the RNC. They want changes.”
Although the former president said he has “nothing to do with the RNC, I’m separate,” their actions have challenged his campaign.
The Republican National Committee wanted all candidates to sign a pledge of loyalty to support the party’s presidential nominee, and Trump refused to sign it.
Additionally, the RNC has sponsored several televised presidential debates, including one hosted by mainstream, liberal network NBC. Former President Trump refused to participate.
The RNC gave a televised platform for several candidates, including former Governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, to deride Trump, leader of the GOP and an overwhelming frontrunner.
These actions served as a distraction from defeating President Biden, which should be the party’s sole focus.
The questionable decisions of the RNC and the Republican’s poor election results have led some leaders in the GOP, including Vivek Ramaswamy, to demand the resignation of McDaniel. During a Republican presidential debate, Ramaswamy asked McDaniel to “come on stage” and resign.
At the recent Las Vegas RNC annual meeting, the bleak financial situation of the party was disclosed to members. Following a review of the troublesome report, Tyler Bowyer, Arizona RNC National Committeeman, disclosed to Just the News that the GOP is in “a bad financial situation.”
Bowyer said 2023 was “the lowest year of fundraising in 30 years for the RNC.” With more substantial fundraising totals in years prior, Bowyer said the Republican Party “still didn’t win.”
With such appalling fundraising before the 2024 election, Bowyer maintained that the “grassroots is rightfully concerned.”
Bowyer is also worried the party is spending too much on “overhead” and not enough on “get-out-the-vote efforts.”
Spending analysis of the DNC and RNC showed the RNC outspent their DNC competitors in these expenditures: office supplies, flowers, donor gifts, limousines, management consulting, and media consulting. Such trivial spending on extravagancies and perks doesn’t win elections. In comparison, the DNC outspent the RNC in critical areas like voter file maintenance, payroll, transfers to state parties, and Get Out the Vote (GOTV) texting.
With such incompetent leadership and abysmal priorities for spending, it isn’t a surprise that an increasing number of grassroots activists and Republican donors are refusing to support the RNC.
To achieve victory in 2024, all GOP candidates and Trump need new leadership leading the RNC now. The stakes are much too high for this neglect to continue.
If no changes are made, unfortunately, the Democrats will have an additional advantage and their already formidable advantages to be victorious in another election cycle.
The GOP has the right candidate in 2024, historic enthusiasm from the grassroots level, and the right policies, while the worst president leads the Dems in U.S. history.
Nevertheless, suppose the party apparatus isn’t equipped and well-funded to fight for every vote. In that case, it will be another disappointing November evening, and the country’s consequences will be too inconceivable to contemplate.
