Wagner Announces RNC Chair Bid
Former ambassador and Republican official Ann Wagner announced Monday she will mount a bid to chair the Republican National Committee, becoming the second candidate to enter the race to replace incumbent chairman Michael Steele.
In a video posted on her website, Wagner dinged Steele for the RNC's debt crisis while promising to raise the money necessary to fully fund programs some Republicans have criticized Steele for ignoring or neglecting.
"We must start immediately to erase past debt and to restore the confidence of our donor base. We must have these resources in order to take back the White House and complete the job that was started this year. Fundraising must come first," Wagner said, making reference to Steele's biggest perceived weakness. "We also must have greater transparency and accountability when it comes to the RNC's budget and expenditures."
In the video, Wagner touts her service as a local, regional, state and national party leader. She has served as Missouri Republican Party chairwoman and as co-chair of the RNC, the number two post at the committee. Wagner was appointed ambassador to Luxembourg under President George W. Bush, and in 2010 served as Sen.-elect Roy Blunt's (R) campaign chair.
"Over the years, I have written and directed state party victory plans, raised the money to implement them, managed multi-million dollar budgets, worked effectively with candidates, delivered our conservative message through the media, hired talented professionals to help get the job done, and have always known that party success starts and ends with real people doing real work to make a real difference," Wagner says. "Yes, I am a political operative. But more than that, I'm a devoted wife and mother from the middle of America."
Wagner has relationships with some RNC members, given her previous tenure. But turnover at the committee has picked up in recent years, meaning she will have to introduce herself to scores of newbies among the committee's 168 members -- a challenge that faces every potential candidate.
Wagner becomes the second candidate to declare her intention to run, after Michigan RNC member Saul Anuzis, who announced earlier this month. Both candidates are expected to be joined by others considering the race. Likely candidates include Wisconsin Republican Party chair Reince Priebus, former RNC political director Gentry Collins, Connecticut GOP chairman Chris Healy and former RNC chairman Mike Duncan.
Steele has not said whether he will run for a second two-year term.
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