President-elect Donald Trump's closest allies are fighting each other over the next person to lead the Republican National Committee, Politico reports.
Incoming White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, the current RNC chairman, is reportedly pushing for a member of the GOP establishment, including RNC official Matt Pinnell and Michigan Republican Party chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel. Trump's chief strategist Steve Bannon and one of his top donors, Rebekah Mercer, reportedly support party strategist Mercedes Schlapp, who served in George W. Bush's administration.
Vice President-elect Mike Pence complicates matters further, casting his weight behind GOP operative Nick Ayers, who advised Pence during the campaign and is a part of the White House transition team.
"This is the real beginning of a clash between what could become a new Republican orthodoxy led by Rebekah Mercer and Steve Bannon versus the established orthodoxy led by Reince Priebus," one strategist close with Trump aides told Politico.
"Trump is up for re-election, and he wants to make sure that what Reince did to get him elected is continued," an unnamed senior Republican campaign official told Politico. "So Trump is going to look to Reince, and 90 percent of the decision is going to be Reince's," the official added, though he emphasized that Priebus isn't hurrying.
"This is not in the fore of his decision-making. He's dealing with the Cabinet appointments first. He has a month and a half, and he wants this off his plate by the end of the year."
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie reportedly asked the Trump transition team to consider him for RNC chairman.
Although the next chair will be elected by members of the RNC in January, the incoming president's support tends to carry enormous influence.