Katana VentraIP

2011 Republican National Committee chairmanship election

The 2011 Republican National Committee (RNC) chairmanship election was held on January 14, 2011, to determine the next chairman of the RNC, to serve a two-year term ending in 2013 and will lead the party through the 2012 general elections. After seven rounds of balloting, Reince Priebus was elected chairman over incumbent chair Michael Steele, Saul Anuzis, Ann Wagner and Maria Cino.[1]

Priebus won re-election with near unanimity in the party's 2013 meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina.[2] He was likewise re-elected to a third term in 2015, setting him up to become the longest serving head of the party ever.[3]

National Chairman for the Save American Jobs Project, former Michigan Republican Party Chairman[4]

Saul Anuzis

Political Director of George Bush's 2000 Campaign[5]

Maria Cino

Chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin[6]

Reince Priebus

incumbent Committee Chairman, former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland[7][8]

Michael Steele

former United States Ambassador to Luxembourg, former Missouri Republican Party Chairman[9]

Ann Wagner

December 13, 2010 – Incumbent Chair Steele announces bid for re-election.

January 3, 2011 – Candidate debate held by at the National Press Club

Americans for Tax Reform

January 14, 2011 – Election held by party voting members in

Washington, D.C.

C-SPAN, January 3, 2011, full video

Republican Committee Chair Debate

A debate among the candidates hosted by Americans for Tax Reform took place on January 3, 2011, at the National Press Club.[12] Anuzis, Cino, Priebus, Steele, and Wagner participated in the debate.[13]

Polling[edit]

A poll by the National Journal, released on January 13, 2011, showed Priebus in the lead with 40 committed votes out of 168, Steele 17, Wagner 15, Anuzis 14, and Cino 12.