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Trump names Ronna Romney McDaniel as RNC chair

WASHINGTON _ As widely rumored for a week, President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday gave his nod to Michigan Republican Party Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel taking the reins of the GOP national committee next year.

The Republican National Committee _ a 168-member body that coordinates national platforms, fundraising and policies for the party _ put out a news release Wednesday afternoon saying it intends to make Romney McDaniel a deputy co-chair prior her to becoming chairman in a vote next year.

"I'm excited to have a highly effective leader in Ronna McDaniel as RNC deputy chair and I look forward to her serving as the party's chairman in 2017," Trump said "Ronna has been extremely loyal to our movement and her efforts were critical to our tremendous victory in Michigan."

Trump beat Hillary Clinton in Michigan by less than half-a-percentage point on Nov. 8, becoming the first Republican presidential nominee to win the state since George H.W. Bush in 1988.

After Trump's victory, Romney McDaniel was also instrumental in leading forces to observe and ultimately block a recount called for by Green Party nominee Jill Stein.

_Detroit Free Press