Ronna McDaniel was born on March 20, 1973, in Austin, Texas. She grew up in a political family, which likely shaped her early political leanings. After graduating from Brigham Young University with a degree in English, she began her foray into politics, eventually becoming the Chair of the Michigan Republican Party in 2015. Her leadership in Michigan helped President [[Donald Trump]] win the state in 2016, leading to her election as the Chair of the [[Republican National Committee (RNC)]] Republican National Committee (RNC) in 2017. McDaniel's tenure at the RNC has been marked by vigorous fundraising and efforts to widen [the Republican Party](https://doctorparadox.net/the-gop-is-3-cults-in-a-trenchcoat/)'s appeal, but also by some contentious decisions. The January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol was a defining moment in recent American politics. While there is no direct evidence to link McDaniel to the event itself, critics argue that her unwavering support for President Trump and her refusal to acknowledge the 2020 election results contributed to the heated political climate that led to the attack. ## Fake electors scheme involvement In addition to her stance on the 2020 election, McDaniel has faced scrutiny for her involvement in the fake electors scheme. According to the information gathered by the Jan. 6 committee, Ronna McDaniel was part of a call with Trump to discuss plans for an "alternate" slate of electors who would claim Trump actually won. She stated that Trump turned the call over to Mr. Eastman, who talked about the importance of helping the campaign gather these contingent electors in case any of the legal challenges changed the results of any states. McDaniel's understanding was that the electors were being gathered as a contingency in the event that court challenges to the election results changed the outcome in any particular state. This information was revealed in a deposition by McDaniel and was part of the evidence considered by the special counsel in the investigation against Trump. Some within the Republican Party have expressed concern that McDaniel's actions reflect a shift away from traditional conservative values towards a more confrontational and divisive approach. This has prompted questions about the long-term direction of the party under her leadership.