Ronna Romney McDaniel is President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to chair the Republican National Committee, the RNC announced Wednesday.

Ms. McDaniel, who is the niece of 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, currently serves as chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party and was credited with helping engineer Mr. Trump’s historic win in the state.

“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,” Mr. 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.”

Her selection to run the RNC would help smooth relations with the Republican establishment if, as expected, Mr. Trump passes over Mr. Romney to nominate ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as secretary of state.

She will succeed RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, who will become White House chief of staff.

“Ronna has been a committed leader in our Party for years, and her leadership this cycle in helping President-elect Trump turn Michigan red for the first time since 1988 makes her an exceptional choice to serve as Deputy Chair,” said Mr. Priebus.

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