Romney McDaniel to Be Next Republican Party Chair

By TIM RYAN

WASHINGTON (CN) - President-elect Donald Trump  has chosen Ronna Romney McDaniel, the former sister-in-law of 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, to take over as the head of the Republican National Committee.

McDaniel will take the job of oncoming chief of staff Reince Priebus, who has lead the party since 2011. McDaniel is currently the head of the GOP in Michigan, one of the key states that gave Trump a surprising victory in November.

Trump's appointment technically makes McDaniel the deputy chair of the RNC, but she will take over the party after Priebus leaves to join Trump in the White House.

"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 in a statement. "Ronna has been extremely loyal to our movement and her efforts were critical to our tremendous victory in Michigan, and I know she will bring the same passion to the Republican National Committee."

McDaniel supported Trump during the primary, notable because her uncle, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, was one of the president-elect's most vocal critics. Romney was considered as a potential secretary of state pick but lost out to Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson earlier this week.

McDaniel tweeted Wednesday afternoon she is "honored" to take the job to "ensure Republicans win across this nation."

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