Donald Trump’s efforts to install allies in the leadership of the Republican National Committee and on state-level GOP committees face an obstacle: secret ballots.
Trump and the RNC have been trying to populate party leadership ranks with allies of the former president. To do so, they’ve recruited candidates and organized letter-writing campaigns aimed at winning the support of local Republicans across the country.
But in most states, the elections for party chiefs are conducted with secret ballots, meaning that local GOP leaders voting in those races can’t be easily swayed by what Trump wants or who he endorses.
In some states, RNC members who are themselves facing re-election are using their own influence to put up candidates that align with Trump’s efforts. In other states, the RNC is using its funds to BuzzFeed campaigns and other efforts to support their slate of candidates, including Trump’s endorsed candidates.
But ultimately, it will be up to local GOP members to make the final decision. Most states use secret ballots and tend to go against the RNC as it is seen as more of a national party organization. Local members of the GOP who will vote in leadership elections are more likely to listen to their own state committees on who to cast their vote for rather than national forces.
Trump’s effort will likely still succeed in some races, as he enjoys considerable popularity among the Republican electorate and his endorsement could carry the day. But ultimately, local voters will be the deciding factor in who rises to the top of the party’s leadership ranks.
