Lara Trump, former President Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law and the newly appointed co-chair of the Republican National Committee, recently declared that the GOP plans to take a direct role in handling ballots to prevent any potential misconduct in the upcoming 2024 election.
This statement comes amidst her rising influence within the party, alongside other staunch Trump supporters, which has sparked a series of concerns and controversies. With her ascent to a prominent leadership position within the RNC, Lara Trump’s intentions signal a significant shift in how the party approaches election integrity.
“We now have the ability at the RNC not just to have poll watchers — people standing in polling locations — but people who can physically handle the ballots,” she said in an interview on the far-right Newsmax cable network on Tuesday.
Her bold assertion about taking control of ballot handling is part of a broader strategy to stave off what she and many within her faction claim were issues that plagued the 2020 election. These claims, however, have consistently been unsupported by credible evidence, yet they continue to resonate with a substantial segment of the Republican base.
“So there was a moratorium for about 40 years on the RNC actually training people to work in these polling locations,” she said, referring to a consent decree running from 1982 to 2018 limiting Republican poll watcher activity after a series of illegal attempts to challenge voter eligibility in Black and Latino neighborhoods in New Jersey. “That gives us a great ability, heading into what I assume everyone understands is the most important election of our lifetimes,” she added.
This strategy raises numerous questions regarding the allocation of RNC funds, especially in light of ongoing legal battles faced by Donald Trump. There is a growing unease over whether party resources might be diverted to finance the former president’s legal defenses.
Trump is currently entangled in criminal charges in Washington, D.C., and Georgia, where he is accused of attempting to obstruct the certification of the 2020 election results. Moreover, the implications of Lara Trump’s leadership are extending beyond just legal and electoral strategies.
There are also concerns about the potential redirection of party efforts away from initiatives like minority outreach. Proposals that suggest defunding these centers have alarmed many within the party and beyond, pointing to a possible narrowing of the Republican Party’s outreach and inclusivity efforts.
Lara Trump and her cohort’s ascendancy within the RNC reflects a deeper alignment with Donald Trump’s combative style and contentious political strategies. This shift comes at a critical time when the party is defining its identity ahead of the next presidential race.
The focus on stringent control over election processes, coupled with a contentious stance on inclusivity and legal expenditure, highlights the internal conflicts and ideological battles shaping the future of the GOP. As these developments unfold, they not only influence the internal dynamics of the Republican Party but also frame the broader political discourse surrounding election integrity and party strategy leading up to 2024.
The controversy over ballot handling and fund allocation underscores the challenges the RNC faces as it navigates the complex landscape of American politics, marked by deep divisions and an increasingly polarized electorate.
