The Republican National Committee will gather in Dana Point, California, to choose between Harmeet Dhillon, Mike Lindell, and current chair Ronna McDaniel to lead the party for the next two years. Though McDaniel says more than 100 of the 168 voting RNC members are behind her, and Dhillon publicly claims just 28 backers, the campaign has been bitter and personal.

Donald Trump, who has done little since declaring his 2024 presidential candidacy more than two months ago, will travel to South Carolina on Saturday for his first major public event of the campaign. But while Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) — who once called Trump a “race-baiting, xenophobic bigot” and said the GOP should tell Trump “to go to hell” — will attend to offer Trump a de facto endorsement, other major Palmetto State Republicans like Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) are considering their own presidential bids.

Just for members: The latest edition of Inside Elections.

This issue focuses on some of the biggest races in 2023, including races for governor in Kentucky, Mississippi, and Louisiana, and a potential House special election in Illinois.

President Biden marked the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., at King’s Ebenezer Baptist Church on Sunday, and will mark the Monday national holiday commemorating King’s birth with Al Sharpton at the National Action Network Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Breakfast in Washington.

The events grant Biden a brief respite from the growing calls from Democrats for the White House to be more forceful and transparent in discussing the recent discoveries of classified documents at Biden-associated properties.

Donald Trump has consistently held a big lead in multi-candidate 2024 primary matchups, but that may no longer be the case.

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The Senate has Ricketts, and some senators have decisions to make.

Here’s some of what you may have missed on Political Wire today…

Barbara Lee wants to go to the Senate, and George Santos doesn’t want to go anywhere.

Here’s some of what you may have missed on Political Wire today…

The 2024 California U.S. Senate race is underway, with the first major candidate announcement.

Here’s some of what you may have missed on Political Wire today…

On Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s first day on the dais, some key committee appointments made it clear how much the GOP far right won in last’s week battle.

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Now comes the hard part.

After going 15 rounds to limp into the speaker’s chair shortly after midnight on Saturday, Kevin McCarthy must now try to lead a House Republican majority that is both narrow and bitterly divided. The House convenes at 5:00 p.m. on Monday for an uncertain vote on the rules package McCarthy hammered out with Freedom Caucus rebels.

Kevin McCarthy hopes to be speaker by midnight as the House prepares for a late-night 14th roll call.

Here’s some of what you may have missed on Political Wire today…