RNC chair Ronna McDaniel to step down after Super Tuesday

Ronna McDaniel, chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC), has announced that she will step down from the position on 8 March, three days after Donald Trump takes on challenger Nikki Haley on Super Tuesday.

“The RNC has historically undergone change once we have a nominee and it has always been my intention to honour that tradition,” Ms McDaniel said in a statement.

“I remain committed to winning back the White House and electing Republicans up and down the ballot in November.

She continued: “It has been the honour and privilege of my life to serve the Republican National Committee for seven years as chairwoman to elect Republicans and grow our Party.”

She indicated she would formally tender her resignation at the party’s upcoming spring training meeting in Houston, Texas, to “allow our nominee to select a chair of their choosing”.

Ms McDaniel, the niece of Utah senator Mitt Romney, was personally chosen by Mr Trump for the role in the aftermath of his 2016 election win and she has led the RNC for seven years since but is understood to have recently suffered a deterioration in her relationship with the former president, who looks all-but-certain to secure the Republican presidential nomination again this year after winning his fourth straight primary in South Carolina on Saturday.

Earlier this month, Mr Trump formally endorsed North Carolina Republican Party chairman Michael Whatley as his choice to succeed her in the role.

The candidate also proposed his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, as the RNC’s co-chair and his joint campaign manager, Chris LaCivita, as chief operating officer – representing a near-total potential Maga takeover of the Republican Party’s organising committee.

“I think my friend Michael Whatley