REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE

The first Republican presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle will be held Aug. 23, and candidates participating must pledge to support the eventual GOP nominee.

Thanks to recent advances in artificial intelligence, tools that can create lifelike photos, video and audio are now cheap and readily available.

Donald Trump is again threatening to skip a presidential debate.

The Republican National Committee has decided that the opening Republican presidential debate of the 2024 election season will take place in Milwaukee this August.

Republican presidential candidates will be blocked from the debate stage this summer if they do not sign a pledge to support the GOP’s ultimate presidential nominee.

A newly released audio recording offers a behind-the-scenes look at how former President Donald Trump’s campaign team in a pivotal battleground state knew they had been outflanked by Democrats in the 2020 presidential election.

The Michigan House voted along party lines Tuesday to move the state's primary to the fourth week of February to match an early presidential primary plan approved by a Democratic National Committee panel last month.

Ronna McDaniel has become the longest serving leader of the Republican National Committee since the Civil War.

Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel has won her bid to lead the GOP for two more years.

Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel has won her bid to lead the GOP for two more years.

The Republican National Committee is set to resolve a bitter leadership feud that is exposing dangerous divisions within a party that has struggled to move past a disappointing midterm ahead of a critical race for the White House.

Republicans and Democrats are being forced to confront critical questions about the people and policies they want to represent them as the next election season roars into view.

The Republican National Committee is currently consumed by an increasingly nasty leadership fight as the GOP navigates election losses and its delicate relationship with Donald Trump.

The Republican National Committee is moving forward with a new post-election audit designed to examine the GOP’s underwhelming performance in the recent midterms and the party’s broader struggles since former President Donald Trump rose to power.

A shortage of poll workers has concerned local election officials across the country as the midterm elections approach.

With Election Day 12 days away, efforts are already underway in courtrooms across the country to sow doubt over the outcome.

The Republican National Committee has filed a lawsuit against tech giant Google, alleging the company has been suppressing its email solicitations ahead of November’s midterm elections.

Vice President Kamala Harris has met with college students and Latino leaders in Milwaukee during a visit meant to energize voters weeks before an election in which Wisconsin's Democratic governor, Tony Evers, and Republican U.S. senator, Ron Johnson, are on the ballot.

Milwaukee moved another step closer to hosting the 2024 Republican National Convention when a site selection committee unanimously recommended the event be held there rather than Nashville.

Rudy Giuliani, who led Donald Trump’s court efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, has withdrawn from an interview with the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

A four-day blitz of Senate confirmation hearings begins today for President Biden’s first Supreme Court nominee, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Watch live coverage here.

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman nominated to the Supreme Court, is going before the Senate Judiciary Committee with the path to her historic confirmation seemingly clear.

A rift over the Republican National Committee's symbolic vote to censure former President Donald Trump’s House GOP critics has exposed the competing forces fighting to control the party.

Former President Donald Trump says Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell “does not speak for the Republican Party.”.

Party leaders at the Republican National Committee's winter meeting this past week left no doubt that the GOP is choosing to serve Donald Trump and his political interests before the next presidential election.

The Republican National Committee has censured two GOP lawmakers for participating on the committee investigating the violent Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol.

Republican officials meeting in Utah have advanced a watered-down resolution that would formally censure Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for their perceived disloyalty to former President Donald Trump but not try to expel them from the party.

Members of the Republican National Committee are meeting in Salt Lake City to discuss a series of measures solidifying former President Donald Trump's standing ahead of the midterm elections.

The Republican National Committee says it is planning a rules change that would force presidential candidates seeking the party’s nomination to sign a pledge saying they will not participate in any debates sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates.

California Republicans have sidestepped a potentially nasty fight over endorsing a candidate in the state's upcoming recall election that could remove Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Some legislators want to change New York’s campaign finance rules after Gov. Andrew Cuomo used $285,000 in political donations to pay lawyers representing him in sexual harassment and misconduct investigations.

A complaint filed with the IRS alleges that a conservative group is violating its nonpartisan and nonprofit status by using a voter data system linked to the Republican party.

The Washington Post, New York Times and NBC News all issued similar corrections to stories about former President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudolph Giuliani and his dealings in Ukraine.

The question of whether to serve a search warrant for Rudy Giuliani’s records had simmered inside the Justice Department last year.

The question of whether to serve a search warrant for Rudy Giuliani’s records had simmered inside the Justice Department last year.

A tip to Politico claims Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has considered to run for governor, challenging Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The Republican Party is bringing hundreds of donors and several presidential prospects to the former president’s doorstep in south Florida this weekend.

If President Joe Biden gets his way, the United States is going to be spending an enormous sum on infrastructure.

If President Joe Biden gets his way, the United States is going to be spending an enormous sum on infrastructure.

In this Jan. 6, 2021 photo, an explosive device is shown outside of the Republican National Committee office in Washington. The FBI has released new video showing someone placing two pipe bombs outside the offices of the Republican and Democratic national committees the night before the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo)WASHINGTON – The FBI has released new video showing someone placing two pipe bombs outside the offices of the Republican and Democratic national committees the night before the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. “We are asking for you to come forward and speak to us about any odd or out-of-character behaviors,” D’Antuono said in a video statement released by the FBI. AdThe placement of the pipe bombs has been particularly concerning for law enforcement as officials continue to secure the Capitol and the number of threats against lawmakers remains high.

In his first major speech since leaving office, Trump urged his supporters to give their money to Save America, his political action committee, instead of the GOP's traditional fundraising organizations. AdThe House and Senate Republican campaign committees and a Trump spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The RNC and Trump's campaign worked hand-in-hand during the 2020 election, including raising money through a joint fundraising committee. You have been selected as one of the FIRST to be invited to claim your Trump Legacy Membership,” the RNC wrote in one appeal on Sunday. Ad“We NEED 10,000 patriots who still stand with President Trump before midnight tonight," “URGENT: TRUMP SUPPORTERS NEEDED,” added the National Republican Senatorial Committee Monday afternoon.

“President Trump’s Legacy is in your hands," another pleaded. Before making his money pitch on Sunday, Trump's team quietly updated its fundraising filings. Money raised through Trump's website now goes to Save America JFC, a joint fundraising agreement between the two. Regardless of Trump's next move, the GOP is unlikely to remove him from its sales pitch anytime soon. “Our digital fundraising strategy is simple: raise as much money as possible," said Andrew Romeo, a spokesman for the RSLC.

FILE - In this Nov. 9, 2020 file photo, Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel speaks during a news conference at the Republican National Committee in Washington. The head of the Republican National Committee is declining to encourage former President Donald Trump to run for the White House in 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)NEW YORK – The head of the Republican National Committee on Wednesday declined to encourage former President Donald Trump to run for the White House in 2024, saying the GOP would stay “neutral” in its next presidential primary. I’m not telling anybody to run or not to run in 2024,” McDaniel told The Associated Press when asked whether she wanted to see Trump run again in the next presidential election. I think it’s dangerous.”Moving forward, she said that voters, not Trump, are the head of the Republican Party, though Trump continues to maintain “a huge, huge presence” with his base.

An explosive device is shown outside of the Republican National Committee office, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington. Investigators are still examining the devices and their components to determine the specific compounds inside the pipe bombs, but they both appeared to contain an unknown powder and some metal, the officials said. Investigators so far have few clues to go on — and the chaos from the riot at the Capitol didn’t make their job any easier. Prosecutors described the items as something like “homemade napalm bombs” and arrested the truck's owner, Lonnie Coffman of Falkville, Alabama. But they said Coffman is not suspected of leaving the bombs at the Republican and Democratic national committees.

While The Associated Press has covered the details of many of these lawsuits, it has not written a story on every one. Even before voting began, AP assigned a team of legal reporters to cover litigation in battleground states and to follow those cases through to the end. AP reporters and editors have read every lawsuit and their affidavits to assess which ones are the most newsworthy because of their potential impact on the overall election. As with all stories, AP reporters and editors approach the topic with an open mind, then collect facts and assess them. Remember, hundreds of lawsuits are filed in the United States each day, and journalists use their judgment about which ones merit news coverage.

McDaniel was selected by Trump for the role four years ago and he endorsed her for a new term about a week after the Nov. 3 election. That could give the outgoing president additional sway over the party as he ponders his own future, including a potential presidential run in 2024. While she did not repeat Trump's false claims that he won the election, McDaniel said the GOP continues “to fight for President Trump" as he makes legal challenges across the country. Despite Trump's musing about running again in four years, McDaniel pledged to uphold the party's neutrality in primaries. “President Trump earned more minority votes than any Republican candidate in decades, and a record number of women, minorities and veterans were elected to office,” McDaniel wrote.

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump teased running again for president in 2024 as he hosted a holiday reception at the White House. “It’s been an amazing four years,” Trump told the crowd, which included many Republican National Committee members. It showed dozens of people crammed into the broad Cross Hall of the White House state floor, standing closely together. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Wednesday defended the Trumps' decision to host the parties. Stephanie Grisham, the first lady’s spokeswoman and chief of staff, had said last month that the White House would be moving forward with events, “while providing the safest environment possible."

DETROIT – After a long afternoon of public comment and deliberation the Michigan Board of State Canvassers voted to certify the November election results. Details: Michigan Board of State Canvassers certifies Nov. 3 General Election resultsThe Board of State Canvassers, which has two Republicans and two Democrats, confirmed the results on a 3-0 vote with one abstention. “I commend the three members of the State Board of Canvassers who voted to follow the law and certify the 2020 election results today. President-elect Biden won the State of Michigan by more than 154,000 votes, and he will be our next president on January 20th. Today Cox issued a statement reiterating her remarks before the election results were officially certified.

DETROIT – Three Detroit voters have joined a local organization in suing President Trump and his campaign over their effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Wayne County Board of Canvassers certifies results despite initial deadlockThe lawsuit comes days after two GOP members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers initially voted not to certify the votes, citing discrepancies in the county’s numbers. The pair changed their minds again, however, after President Trump called them personally on Tuesday evening after the certification process. Still, some argue that their meeting with the president so close to the state’s certification meeting is concerning. We expect the State Board of Canvassers to do its job and count the votes.”The Michigan Board of State Canvassers is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. on Monday.

DETROIT – Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and Michigan Republican Party Chairman Laura Cox penned a joint letter dated today to the Michigan Board of State Canvassers asking to delay the certification of election results for two weeks. Since the presidential election Republican leaders have made allegations of voter fraud without substantial evidence. The letter was sent only a day after Michigan Republican leaders met with President Donald Trump. After the meeting both leaders issued a joint letter noting that the meeting with the president was on the state’s fight against COVID-19. @Local4News pic.twitter.com/qUMYjSr35H — Grant Hermes (@GrantHermes) November 21, 2020My joint letter with @GOPChairwoman to the Members of the Michigan Board of State Canvassers.

In this Nov. 2, 2020 photo, Republican candidate for Senate Sen. David Perdue and his wife Bonnie reacts during a campaign stop at Peachtree Dekalb Airport in Atlanta. Republicans are flooding Georgia with cash and field operatives as they look to keep Democrats from seizing control of the Senate under President-elect Joe Bidens administration. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue. “We need Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue in the Senate, and the RNC is mobilizing our grassroots army to help keep them there."

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany speaks during a news conference at the Republican National Committee, Monday, Nov. 9, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566.

The unusual way the Trump campaign is divvying up the contributions has drawn scrutiny from election watchdogs, who say Trump and his family are poised to financially benefit from the arrangement. In a statement, Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh did not address questions about how the incoming donations are split up. “They could pay (Trump) children consulting fees. There’s no personal use restriction.”(The RNC, not the Trump campaign, did spend almost $100,000 buying copies of Donald Trump Jr.’s book, “Triggered,” last year.) Legal challenges filed by the Trump campaign have complained that their poll watchers were unable to scrutinize the voting process.

Kristi Noem speaks during the third night of the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. (Courtesy of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via AP)SIOUX FALLS, S.D. The Republican governor, a close Trump ally, launched a fundraising campaign soon after the election was called for Biden on Saturday. Ryan, a campaign finance lawyer, pointed out that the governor can give a maximum of $2,800 to Trump’s campaign under federal law. Trump's solicitation, though billed as raising money for his legal fight, notes that half of contributions will go to pay off general election campaign debt.

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan State House and Senate Oversight Committees will be in session Saturday to discuss the ballot counting process. Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel was in Oakland County Friday asserting that there are claims that need to be addressed. READ: Michigan House Speaker says GOP will launch vote counting inquiryREAD: Republican National Committee chair calls for investigation into Michigan ballot-counting processREAD: Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson disputes claims by Republican National Committee chair on Michigan’s ballot counting processIssues included complaints about the counting process at the TCF Center. There were also questions on why Antrim County had flipped votes for incumbent President Donald Trump and challenger Joe Biden. Every vote that was cast was counted accurately and there is a paper ballot backup," said Rochester Hills city clerk Tina Barton.

DETROIT – Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson dispute claims made by Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel in regards to Michigan’s ballot counting process. However, the clerk accidentally did not update the software used to collect voting machine data and report unofficial results. In order to report unofficial results, county clerks use election management system software to combine the electronic totals from tabulators and submit a report of unofficial results. In response, Thomas issued a statement saying, “The accusations are wrong and reveal the person making them doesn’t know Michigan’s election process. The Republican-led Michigan State House and Senate will hold hearings on the “voting and counting process” in the state, according to House Speaker Lee Chatfield.

DETROIT – Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel is calling for an investigation into the ballot-counting process in Michigan. “Today (Friday), we announce the Republican National Committee has deployed legal teams in four states, including Michigan, to investigate vote tabulations in those states,” McDaniel said in a press conference. 4 Fast FactsBe InformedWith COVID-19 cases rising exponentially in Michigan, local hospitals are starting to fill with new patients. The university announced all housing contracts for undergrads are being canceled for the winter semester. Read MoreThursday, Nov. 5, 2020 --

DETROIT – Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel is calling for an investigation into the ballot-counting process in Michigan. “Today (Friday), we announce the Republican National Committee has deployed legal teams in four states, including Michigan, to investigate vote tabulations in those states," McDaniel said in a press conference. This week at the TCF Center in Detroit, Republican poll watchers claimed they were tossed from the building and not allowed to observe the ballot-counting process. Officials have said that individuals from both the Democratic and Republican parties were present during the ballot-counting process at the TCF Center. In response, Thomas issued a statement saying, “The accusations are wrong and reveal the person making them doesn’t know Michigan’s election process.

“So glad this great GDP number came out before November 3rd,” Trump tweeted, predicting a dire reversal if Biden is elected. Biden was forced to wrap his speech up early at a drive-in rally at the Florida State Fairgrounds In Tampa after a brief shower turned into a torrential downpour. Biden's campaign also announced he will visit Minnesota Friday, hours before Trump holds a rally in one of the few Clinton-voting states Trump is hoping to pick up this year. Associated Press writers Tamara Lush in Tampa, Florida, Michelle Price in Bullhead City, Kathleen Ronayne in Phoenix, and Will Weissert and Brian Slodysko in Washington contributed to this report. ___AP’s Advance Voting guide brings you the facts about voting early, by mail or absentee from each state: https://interactives.ap.org/advance-voting-2020/.

FILE - In this Oct. 5, 2020 file photo, the White House is shown Monday afternoon, Oct. 5, 2020, in Washington. Both sides are informed by the experience of the 2000 election, which was ultimately decided by the Supreme Court in Bush v. Gore. Thousands of volunteer lawyers are prepared to assist with Election Day operations and poll watching and other issues, Riemer said. A group called Lawyers for Trump, whose advisory board includes Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, is recruiting retired lawyers and law students. But lawyers on both sides say they are preparing to be ready for much more than a fight on Twitter.

Supporters of President Donald Trump arrive by bus for a Trump campaign rally at Harrisburg International Airport, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, in Middletown, Pa. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)WASHINGTON – The Republican National Committee is putting Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court confirmation fight front and center with voters just weeks before Election Day. The confirmation battle will be featured in a new $10 million RNC digital ad campaign to encourage battleground state voters to return vote-by-mail ballots or go to the polls. The national party, in concert with President Donald Trump's campaign, is planning local events and protests across the country to support Barrett’s confirmation as well. The RNC on Saturday unveiled a website, ConfirmBarrett.com, to allow supporters to contact lawmakers to urge them to put Barrett on the court. It also anticipates trying to fundraise off the confirmation fight, including Democratic vice president nominee Kamala Harris' position on the Senate Judiciary committee.

WASHINGTON – A former executive who worked in the private sector for Postmaster General Louis DeJoy was recently paid by President Donald Trump's reelection effort, according to a new campaign finance disclosure. His contributions were part of more than $1.7 million that DeJoy and his employees steered to Republican candidates for federal and state office during those years, campaign finance disclosures show. Wos resigned in 2015, which came after a grand jury subpoenaed records from her agency, including her correspondence with Hauck. Dejoy and Wos have been prolific donors to Republican causes for years, including $1.2 million they gave to Trump. Postal Service has also drawn fierce criticism from Democrats, who argue that efficiency measures he implemented were actually an attempt to hamstring mail delivery to benefit Trump's political fortunes.

In this image from video, Chen Guancheng speaks from Washington, during the third night of the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. (Courtesy of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via AP)A blind Chinese dissident whose escape to the U.S. was facilitated by the Obama administration is calling on other countries to support President Donald Trump in leading a coalition to stop China's aggression.Standing up to fight unfairness is not easy. After six days holed up inside the American embassy in Beijing, he was taken to a nearby hospital. Help my family and me leave safely," Chen said, appealing again for help from U.S. officials. Clinton prevailed on Chinese officials to allow Chen to leave for the U.S., where he lived in New York after his escape.

The Trump White House has taken an ambivalent approach to the ethics rules and norms that guided past administrations. And Wolf and Pompeo now join a substantive list of other Trump officials who have taken a cavalier approach specifically toward the Hatch Act. This video is an egregious violation of the Hatch Act, wrote Claire O. Finkelstein and Richard W. Painter, the two law school professors. They also called for a review of whether State Department employees who helped with logistics could have violated the Hatch Act, as well. The penalty for violating the Hatch Act can include removal from federal service, debarment from federal employment for a period of under five years, suspension, reprimand, or a civil penalty that cannot be greater than $1,000.

This isnt a party convention, its a Trump convention, said Rory Cooper, a Republican strategist and former congressional staffer who opposes Trump. If Republicans lose the Senate in November, we should look back at this week as a lost opportunity to introduce the country to more GOP congressional candidates. Scalise made no direct reference to the GOP's faint hopes of regaining the House majority in November's elections. Sean Parnell, a GOP challenger for a Democratic-held seat in western Pennsylvania, didnt specifically ask listeners to award Republicans House control. The inattention to the GOP's congressional efforts might have changed Wednesday when Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, delivered prime-time remarks.

In this image from video, congressional candidate and former NFL player Burgess Owens speaks from Washington, during the third night of the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. Owens, a former NFL player and Fox News commentator, handily won the Republican primary by running to the right of his opponents. The political newcomer is trying to reclaim the suburban Salt Lake City district once held by Mia Love, another Black conservative who was the first Black Republican woman elected to the House. But some Republicans are pushing back on QAnon, and the appearance could become a liability in the swing suburban district. One former Republican state lawmaker called on Owens appearance to be pulled from the convention, saying even the appearance of a connection with QAnon should disqualify him.

President Donald Trump thanked CNN Tuesday for its Republican convention coverage, while Fox News heard complaints from some viewers that it wasn't showing enough. Overall, 15.8 million people watched the final hour of convention coverage Monday, down 16% from Democratic candidate Joe Biden's first night last week. Fox's audience was up 238%, but Democratic convention viewership beat Republicans on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and MSNBC. While MSNBC and CNN combined had just under 10 million viewers for Bidens first night, they had 3.6 million for Trump, Nielsen said. Enough with Hannity, Hannity, Hannity, tweeted Steve Walsh, press secretary to a Republican congresswoman from Missouri.

The resolution claimed that it puts conservative groups or voices at risk of attack.The SPLC, which conducts investigations and engages in civil rights litigation, said in a statement Monday that the resolution gave comfort to hate groups and accused the RNC of being selective in its condemnation. community with dehumanizing rhetoric.The resolution was the latest clash between the SPLC and conservative groups over the Alabama-based organizations Hatewatch list, which tracks radical and extremist groups. The civil rights group, championed by many on the left, has denied that assertion, saying that groups with beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics make their list. The RNC resolution cited the presence of the anti-abortion Family Research Council (FRC) on the list, accusing the SPLC of leading to a 2012 shooting at the FRC. The RNC also approved resolutions defending the federal celebration of the Christopher Columbus holiday; condemning cancel culture and reaffirming its support for President Donald Trump.

The GOP is recruiting 50,000 monitors, typically party activists and specially appointed volunteers, across 15 battleground states. Republicans say they are focused on preventing the fraud they have long maintained, without evidence, is rampant in U.S. elections. Even before the coronavirus reconfigured the election, both parties were bracing for a titanic battle over voting in courts and at the polls. There is no modern precedent for what to expect, said Marc Elias, who represents Democrats in voting rights lawsuits across the country. For 40 years, the Republican Party has been fighting this battle with one hand tied behind its back, Justin Clark, now a senior counsel to Trump's campaign, told a conservative conference in March.

Ill probably do mine live from the White House, Trump said, but he also said it was not locked in. If I use the White House, we save tremendous amounts of money for the government in terms of security, traveling," he said. Biden has been on the convention stage twice as the vice presidential nominee for Barack Obama. Those kinds of effects and approaches could be repeated even without a traditional convention stage in an arena or stadium. Four years later, he walked out to a full outdoor stadium a remarkable scene in the annals of presidential conventions in Denver.

Roy Cooper, a Democrat, who wouldnt guarantee the state would lift restrictions on large crowds like the scenes inside a presidential convention arena. Ill probably do mine live from the White House, Trump said, but he also said it was not locked in. Biden has been on the convention stage twice as the vice presidential nominee for Barack Obama. Those kinds of effects and approaches could be repeated even without a traditional convention stage in an arena or stadium. Four years later, he walked out to a full outdoor stadium a remarkable scene in the annals of presidential conventions in Denver.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Republicans once dominated voting by mail in Florida. But while Democrats have tried to expand access to voting by mail, Republicans have struggled with what to tell their voters. Despite the president's objections, numerous states have loosened restrictions on mail voting amid the pandemic. In Florida, state Republicans recently sent a mailer urging their party members to request mail ballots. In North Carolina, another swing state where the GOP once dominated absentee voting, Republicans also cherry-picked a Trump tweet in a mailer pleading with their voters to request mail ballots.

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump is set to be officially renominated in a shrunken Republican convention truncated to four hours in Charlotte, North Carolina, next month because of the coronavirus. The Republican National Committee outlined the agenda for the Aug. 24-27 event. Its public components were shifted last month to Jacksonville, Florida, amid a tiff with North Carolina's Democratic governor over the state's reopening guidelines. The RNC will fly the cohort of delegates allowed to attend the Charlotte proceedings to Jacksonville on the afternoon of Aug. 24 so they can attend the four nights of made-for-television programming. Trump will formally accept the nomination on the last night of the convention.

RNC chair Ronna McDaniel said in a letter to RNC members that only the roughly 2,500 regular delegates to the convention would be permitted to attend the opening three nights of the convention. The move comes after the GOP was forced to move most of the convention from Charlotte, North Carolina, after local officials ruled out a full-capacity crowd amid the pandemic. When we made these changes, we had hoped to be able to plan a traditional convention celebration to which we are all accustomed," McDaniel said. McDaniel said the convention was planning to use both indoor and outdoor spaces. The GOP will be providing on-site temperature checks and face-coverings, and will have COVID-19 testing available for attendees.

WASHINGTON The Republican National Committee and President Donald Trumps campaign say they have now hired 1,500 field staffers, aiming to convert their financial advantage over Democrats into votes in November. Trump Victory, the joint field effort of the two organizations, announced Monday the hiring of an additional 300 staffers set to hit 20 target states by Wednesday in the largest field operation over mounted by a Republican. Republicans are quick to note that their staffer count in the field is more than double that of Biden, whose goal was 600 field staffers by the end of June. Both the Trump and Biden field operations went virtual largely overnight in mid-March as the coronavirus pandemic hit. We have the biggest and best ground game operation ever seen, said Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh.

But she made clear that Jacksonville is the favorite now that Charlotte, North Carolina, the official host of this summer's Republican National Convention, has balked on promising Trump a full-blown convention free from social distancing measures during the coronavirus pandemic. Shame on him, because he put politics over the people of his state and revenues coming into his state, McDaniel said in the radio interview. Mayor Len Curry is a former chair of the state Republican Party and the area is the home base of GOP Gov. We are going to keep our convention of, the business of the convention in Charlotte. Charlotte officials on Wednesday said that despite public comments from Trump and GOP officials, they had not been officially informed of any intent to move any part of the convention.

We have been committed to a safe RNC convention in North Carolina and its unfortunate they never agreed to scale down and make changes to keep people safe, Cooper tweeted in response to the decision. Protecting public health and safety during this pandemic is a priority.A traditional GOP convention brings together roughly 2,500 delegates, the same number of alternate delegates and many times more guests, journalists and security personnel. The Republican governors of states including Tennessee, Florida and Georgia had said they would be interested in hosting if North Carolina fell through. Changing sites had been seen as difficult for reasons including the contract between GOP officials and Charlotte leaders to hold the convention there. Associated Press writers Zeke Miller in Washington; Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tenn.; Jonathan Drew in Durham, North Carolina; and Tom Foreman Jr. in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump will resume in-person fundraisers for his re-election campaign next month with additional precautions for the coronavirus. A Republican National Committee official said Friday that Trump is currently scheduled to hold events on June 11 in Dallas and June 13 in Bedminster, New Jersey, to raise money for Trump Victory, the joint fundraising committee for the RNC, Trump and 22 state Republican parties. Trump last held in-person fundraisers in Florida in early March. The RNC says Trump Victory will cover the cost of the COVID-19 testing for its guests. Trump needled his opponent earlier this month by saying he was willing to make rapid COVID-19 testing kits available to Biden's campaign so he can resume travel.

FILE - In this Sept. 9, 2019, file photo, President Donald Trump participates in a briefing about Hurricane Dorian with North Carolina Gov. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)President Donald Trump threatened Monday to pull the Republican National Convention out of North Carolina if the state's Democratic governor doesn't immediately sign off on allowing a full-capacity gathering in August despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Trump's tweets about the upcoming RNC in Charlotte come two days after North Carolina's largest daily increase in virus cases yet. Unfortunately, Democrat Governor, @RoyCooperNC is still in Shutdown mood & unable to guarantee that by August we will be allowed... full attendance in the Arena, Trump tweeted Monday. Cooper narrowly beat an incumbent Republican in 2016 while Trump won the state.

Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said Monday that the party will not be holding a virtual convention," pledging that the presidential nominating convention in late August will be conducted at least partly in-person. The coronavirus outbreak forced Democrats to move their convention from July to August, and it's still unclear whether that event will be entirely online. On a call with reporters about election lawsuits, McDaniel initially demurred when asked about the GOP gathering, slated for Aug. 24-27 in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the party is set to formally choose President Donald Trump as its nominee. Its quite a ways away, and there's ample time for us to adjust, if necessary, McDaniel said. But later, in response to a question about the Minnesota Republican Party's online convention possibly being disrupted by hackers, McDaniel said: We will not be holding a virtual convention.The RNC has hired a medical adviser for the convention, and McDaniel said the party will need to consult with the Charlotte mayor and North Carolina governor on logistics.

Biden's campaign and the DNC planned to file papers for the deal on Saturday with the Federal Elections Commission. The arrangement comes as Biden expands his influence with the national party and works with the DNC and state parties. In addition to trying to unseat Trump, Democrats are looking to retain their House majority and wrest control of the Senate from Republicans. We believe that there will be battleground states that have never been battleground states before, Bidens campaign manager, Jen OMalley Dillon, said Friday. Alabama, Mississippi and West Virginia stand out as heavily GOP states that wont be close in the presidential election.