Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley emphasized the importance of party unity in an interview when asked about Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s threat to force a vote to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson just months before House Republicans defend their majority in the upcoming November elections. Whatley stressed the need for unity and ensuring that all Republicans understand the gravity of the election cycle to be successful in flipping the Senate and expanding the House majority. Former President Donald Trump also called for unity at a private donor luncheon at Mar-a-Lago, inviting Johnson to join him on stage and reiterating the importance of sticking together.
Greene, a Republican from Georgia, announced her intention to call a motion to vacate for Johnson, which would force members from both parties to vote on his speakership. Democrats have indicated they will oppose Greene’s motion, effectively defending Johnson’s position as Speaker. Whatley, appointed by Trump to lead the RNC, faces the challenge of shaping the party organization in the former president’s image. Whatley succeeded Ronna McDaniel, whom Trump publicly criticized, and his primary focus is on supporting Republican candidates and working to secure wins in the upcoming elections.
Trump endorsed Whatley and his daughter-in-law Lara Trump for co-chair positions in February, indicating his support for their leadership within the RNC. Despite facing criticism for questioning job applicants about whether the 2020 election was stolen, Whatley emphasized the importance of hiring individuals who support Trump and his agenda. Trump’s recent statements in support of absentee and early voting marked a shift from his previous opposition to mail-in voting, with Whatley stating that while Trump would like to see some changes in voting procedures, the party will compete using the current rules.
While Republican officials are encouraging supporters to vote by mail and early, the RNC is simultaneously pursuing lawsuits in various states to challenge mail-in ballot deadlines, ballot drop boxes, and voter roll purges. The party has been successful in some lawsuits, such as in Pennsylvania, but has encountered pushback in others, like cases in Nevada. Despite these efforts, Whatley maintains that the goal is not about paving the way for Trump to claim the 2024 election was stolen if he loses to President Joe Biden. Whatley emphasized that the system is designed to make voting easy and cheating difficult, and these efforts have broad support among the American people.
Trump’s recent comments during a rally in Wisconsin suggesting he may not accept election results if he loses have raised concerns about the potential for disputing election outcomes. Trump stated that he would accept the results if they were honest but also mentioned the need to fight for the country’s rights. However, Whatley reiterated that the focus of the RNC’s legal efforts is not about voter suppression but rather about ensuring the integrity of the electoral process. Despite some dissent among Trump supporters regarding voting methods, the party remains committed to promoting voting options like mail-in and early voting while legally challenging certain procedures to strengthen election security.
