The Woman Behind the RNC’s Fundraising Juggernaut

Ronna Romney McDaniel is smashing fundraising records for the Republican National Committee.

In February, the RNC chairwoman raised $12.8 million for the party—cranking up the total haul for the midterm to $157.7 million. The total cash-on-hand number for the RNC: $42.2 million. (Heading into the last midterm elections, in 2014, the RNC had just $10 million cash on hand.) McDaniel has already raised more money than any other chair in any party at this point in the cycle, according to her staff.

In the latest episode of POLITICO’s Women Rule podcast, the RNC chairwoman opened up about her fervor for bringing in cash. “I just love the challenge. I think it is the most amazing thing,” she told POLITICO’s Anna Palmer. “I do love going into a meeting and thinking, How am I going to get [this money]—what am I going to do to get this money?”