RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel Considering Run Against Whitmer: Report

LANSING, MI — Michigan Republicans have struggled to find a strong candidate willing to oppose Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in her bid for reelection in 2022, but some recent reports suggest that could be changing.

Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel on Wednesday reportedly said she has considered stepping down from her current position in order to challenge Whitmer in 2022, according to a report by Politico's Alex Isenstadt.

The report cited remarks made during a closed-door meeting held Wednesday with members of the RNC in Dallas. According to the report, McDaniel became emotional at the meeting when describing how her two children have been unable to return to in-person learning and how Whitmer has "severely mishandled the coronavirus pandemic."

How serious McDaniel was when she made comments about potentially sparking a campaign remains unclear, the report submits, with sources telling Politico that the comments may have been made more out of frustration than sincere intention.

McDaniel, 48, has been chairwoman of the RNC since 2017. A member of the Romney family, she has Republican ties to Michigan and was the chair of the Michigan Republican Party from 2015-17.

Michigan Republican officials have struggled to find a big-name candidate to run against Whitmer in 2022. Rumors that Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller would run were dismissed in January when the purported "dream candidate" said she was not interested in campaigning.

Her name had been mentioned with the likes of Lee Chatfield and John James as potential candidates, although neither has shown strong interest in running.

Michigan Senate Majority leader Mike Shirkey also has had his name tossed around as a potential candidate, although he previously told The Detroit News that he has "no interest" in running for governor.

This comes as Whitmer, already heavily criticized by many on the political right for her actions amid the coronavirus pandemic, moves that included executive orders closing businesses and requiring face coverings, has drawn more flak following reports that she had traveled out of state amid the pandemic to visit her chronically ill father in Florida.

McDaniel was one of the first national political names who criticized Whitmer, blasting her in a social media post on Twitter.

"Once again, @GovWhitmer has been caught refusing to abide by her own draconian orders," she said. "Michigan cannot tolerate her failed leadership any longer."