Republicans did so much more poorly than was expected of the party during a midterm election cycle that 1) normally favors the party out of the White House; and 2) amid record inflation, gas prices, supply chain shortages, and a chaotic southwestern border.
While the GOP narrowly won a majority in the House, the party underperformed in the Senate and even lost a seat in a supposedly red state -- Georgia.
The question is why?
There have been many opinions thus far, but one that seems to be prevalent is that the party refused to spend big on races that it could have won simply because the Republican National Committee elite and RINO leaders in Congress did not like some of the Senate candidates because they were endorsed by Donald Trump.
That would include Dr. Mehmet Oz who ran against a stroke-injured, hoodie-wearing Democrat who cannot speak coherently at times -- and Oz lost.
It included Blake Masters in Arizona, who ran against a Democratic senator tied to Biden's horrible agenda -- and Masters lost.
It also included Adam Laxalt in Nevada, who ran against incumbent Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, who was wounded politically because she, too, was tied to Biden's agenda -- and Laxalt lost.
Finally, the list included former Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker, who ran against an incumbent Democrat so far to the left that he falls off the political scale, again in a red state -- and Walker lost.
The common denominator is that these candidates lacked the financial resources to mount more effective campaigns. And come to find out, the party that they belong to refused to adequately support them.
Now, we learn that millions in donations to the RNC were spent frivolously instead -- on lavish trips for the party elite; on liquor and amenities; private jets; limousines.
Despite record inflation and a stagnating economy, the Republican National Committee under chair Ronna McDaniel's leadership has spent millions on private jets, limousines, alcohol, and luxury retreats to achieve three straight cycles of election losses.
According to a report by RedState, in 2021-22 the RNC spent $64,000 at clothing stores, over $500,000 on private jets, and $321,000 on floral arrangements.
A review of Federal Elections Commission (FEC) data by the outlet, along with interviews with vendors, state party officials, RNC members, and former staffers revealed that many of the transactions appear to be misclassified.
Almost $5,000 spent in 2022 at luxury athletic apparel company Lululemon, was classified as “office expenses.” Two 2017 expenditures totaling $9,300 at Madison Square Garden were also classified the same way.
? BREAKING: RNC Spending Since 2017 under Ronna McDaniel:
• $3.1 million on private jet services
• $1.3m on limousine/chauffeur services
• $17m on donor mementos
• $750,000 on floral arrangements
• $80,000 in alcohol-related expenditures
PLEASE DO NOT RT this!
— Pillow Purge Poso?? (@JackPosobiec) December 15, 2022
Since 2017, according to FEC filings, the RNC has spent:
- $80,000 on alcohol-related expenses
- $750,000 on floral arrangements
- $1.3 million on limousine/chauffeur services
- $3.1 million on private jet services
- $17.1 million on gifts for donors
After the stunning numbers were revealed, RNC loyalists began circling their wagons around McDaniel, but she is facing a serious challenge for another two-year term as party chief from conservative lawyer Harmeet Dhillon, who seized on the outlandish expenditures as another reason to oust the current leader -- as if four straight years of congressional and state-level losses aren't enough.
"I've really enjoyed being able to play a leadership role nationally in our party," Dhillon told Fox News Digital this week. "But what's been disappointing about the last six years is our failure to win elections during that time."
She wants to take the party in a "fresh direction," which she says McDaniel cannot do.
"I would say she views her voters as the 168 members of the RNC," Dhillon said of McDaniel. "That's what a lot of members say as well. Some of them have even contemptuously come out and said in the media, 'We don't care what the voters think. What do they know? We are the voters.' So she hasn't had to run a grassroots campaign. And I'm not running a grassroots campaign. I just happen to have grassroots support and that's a big distinction. So people have organically decided they want to support me."
The RNC members will choose their leader next month via secret ballot at the party's annual winter meeting.
Sources include:
Please contact us for more information.