2009 Republican National Committee chairmanship election

2009 Republican National Committee chairmanship election
← 2007 January 20, 2009 (2009-01-20) 2011 →
168 members of the Republican National Committee
85 votes needed to win
 
Candidate Michael Steele Katon Dawson
First round 46 votes
27.4% 		28 votes
16.7%
Sixth round 91 votes
54.2% 		77 votes
45.8%
 
Candidate Mike Duncan Saul Anuzis
First round 52 votes
31.0% 		22 votes
13.1%
Sixth round Withdrawn Withdrawn
Chairman before election

Mike Duncan

 Elected Chairman

Michael Steele

The 2009 Republican National Committee chairmanship election started out as a six-way race, and ended on the sixth ballot with Michael Steele becoming the first African-American chairman of the Republican National Committee.[1] The Washington Times called it the "'Dirtiest ever' race for RNC chairman."[2]

  1. ^ "Michael Steele elected RNC chairman". USA Today. January 30, 2009. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  2. ^ "'Dirtiest ever' race for RNC chairman". Washington Times. January 29, 2009. Retrieved January 16, 2011.