SHIRLEY, N.Y. (1010 WINS) — Republican New York Rep. Lee Zeldin announced Wednesday that he will not run for chairman of the Republican National Committee this year but urged chair Ronna McDaniel to step aside following this year's election losses.
Zeldin, who made impressive gains for Republicans across New York state during November's election, debated a bid to lead the RNC but decided against running.
"I won’t be running for RNC Chair at this time with McDaniel's reelection pre-baked by design, but that doesn’t mean she should even be running again," he said.
Instead, the 42-year-old Suffolk County representative took aim at McDaniel in his lengthy statement, saying it would be "proven right" that Washington, D.C., is an "irredeemable swamp" if "McDaniel moves forward with running for a fourth term, despite her prior pledge not to do so."
"The better path forward would be for Chairwoman McDaniel to listen to and respect the wishes of the actual grassroots voters of our party, and allow the RNC to forge ahead with new leadership," Zeldin added. "Her greatest service to the Republican Party at this time would be to make room for a new Chair."
McDaniel is now set to face at least two challengers during the RNC's leadership election in Dana Point, California, in late January, Newsday reported.
Harmeet Dhillon, a former campaign legal counsel for President Donald Trump and a California RNC member, has announced her intention to run, as has Mike Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow and a staunch Trump supporter.
Zeldin, who will leave office in January, told Newsday that if he does not seek for the RNC job, he has "many fantastic options"
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