(Chuck Muth) – The national political spotlight is starting to shine on someone very familiar to Nevada Republicans: Michael J. McDonald.
As buzz grows about the coming shakeup at the Republican National Committee (RNC), McDonald – Nevada’s longtime GOP chairman – is being talked about as a possible replacement for current RNC Chair Michael Whatley.
And on a number of levels, it makes sense.
McDonald is a close ally to President Donald Trump and last year helped deliver something no Republican presidential candidate has pulled off in two decades: winning Nevada.
A Long Track Record in the Silver State
McDonald – a former Las Vegas city councilman – isn’t new to the political game. In fact, he’s the longest-serving state GOP chair in Nevada history, first elected to the role in 2012.
Over the past 13 years, he’s become a key figure in both Nevada politics and national Republican circles.
He oversaw the Trump ground game that paid off in 2024 when Nevada backed Donald Trump for president, flipping the state red for the first time since George W. Bush won it in 2004.
“Michael McDonald deserves credit for putting Nevada back in the win column,” grassroots activist Mike Steigman told Nevada News & Views. “He’s been loyal to the America First movement from the beginning, and he knows how to win tough races.”
Not Everyone’s Sold
Still, not all Republicans are on board with the idea of McDonald taking over the national party.
Critics say that while McDonald delivered for Trump in 2024, the rest of the state didn’t fare as well for down-ballot Republicans.
Democrats held onto both U.S. Senate seats, won a majority of Nevada’s congressional delegation, and still control the state legislature.
That’s led some to question whether the state GOP under McDonald has been too focused on national personalities and not enough on building a deep bench of local candidates.
“There’s no denying McDonald helped Trump win Nevada,” one conservative political activist noted. “But when it comes to growing the party beyond the base – especially with independents and swing voters – his record is mixed at best.”
Others point to internal struggles within the Nevada GOP, including infighting among local party chapters, leadership challenges, and fundraising gaps compared to state Democrats.
These issues, they argue, could follow McDonald to the national level.
He’s also drawn fire from critics over his involvement in the 2020 alternate elector controversy, where he and other Republicans signed documents claiming Trump had won Nevada, despite the state’s certified results showing otherwise.
That case has drawn scrutiny from federal investigators and continues to generate headlines.
Why the RNC is Looking for New Leadership
Michael Whatley, who took over the RNC after Ronna McDaniel stepped down in early 2024, announced this week that he plans to run for U.S. Senate in North Carolina.
That move opens the door for a new chair to take the reins – and fast.
Trump is expected to name a replacement soon, possibly before Whatley officially launches his Senate campaign.
While no major media outlets have confirmed any front-runner, McDonald’s name has started popping up on X and in GOP circles.
So far, no other serious contenders have made headlines. That gives McDonald an edge – especially with his record of delivering results for Trump in a key swing state and his close relationship with the president.
A Fighter for the Base
Although Mike and I have had a love-hate relationship for some 30 years now, he’s certainly known as someone who doesn’t back down.
He’s been a strong advocate of election integrity, voter ID, and parental rights in schools and is not afraid to speak plainly, even when it ruffles feathers.
“He doesn’t walk away from fights,” newly-elected Clark County Republican Party Chairwoman Jill Douglass told me this morning. “And maybe that’s what the GOP needs at the national level.”
But even among Republicans, there’s debate about whether a “fighter” is what the party needs right now or if it’s time for a strategist who can broaden the GOP’s appeal.
The RNC hasn’t made any formal announcements about Whatley’s departure or who will take his place.
But if Trump and the party are looking for someone loyal to the MAGA base and not afraid to speak up, McDonald checks a lot of boxes.
One thing’s for sure: Michael McDonald helped put Nevada Republicans on the national radar. And in a high-stakes election cycle like 2026, that alone may be enough to give him a serious shot.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
