The chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party withdrew his endorsement of Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel’s bid for reelection.
Eric Underwood in a Monday statement said he rescinded his endorsement and will “not make any further public endorsement for any leadership level at the RNC.”
Update:
Nebraska Chair, Eric Underwood, has rescinded his endorsement of Ronna McDaniel.
He said he will present a vote to the State Central Committee & represent the will of the people.
— #ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) December 13, 2022
Further, he declared that he will present the question of national party leadership to the Nebraska Central Committee at its January meeting. This, he said, will enable him to present “the will of the people.”
Underwood sent the message to the 168 members of the RNC and “Republicans across the nation” in what he said is a response to the internal conflicts roiling the party.
He added that the six weeks leading up to the RNC meeting may be a time of choosing sides and declaring loyalty to a certain faction. He will instead, he said, choose the people of Nebraska.
McDaniel is encountering resistance to her serving a fourth two-year term after the GOP’s less-than-stellar performance in November’s midterm elections. The party was unable to capitalize on President Joe Biden’s low approval ratings and barely won control of the House of Representatives.
Underwood succeeded former state leader Dan Welch earlier this year on the promise of being a “unifying figure.” His letter to the RNC and national Republicans expressed concerns over divisive factions as opposed to unity in a “platform and value-based” GOP.
He told Nebraska Public Media in July that the Republican Party has withstood “a divide” for a very long time.
There is still widespread support within Republican ranks for McDaniel, including from J.L. Spray, a Nebraska National Committee member.
Spray expressed his belief in the current chairperson, saying she has been a record-breaking fundraiser who dispensed both tools and resources to the state and local levels. He asserted that McDaniel constructed a powerful stage for the 2024 elections and has his “proud” support.
Democrats must be ecstatic over internal divisions within Republican ranks after the disappointing midterms. And while there will always be competition internally, the best favor conservatives can do for themselves is to find unity as they move towards the next election cycle.
