Belford proud to serve as National Committeewoman elected from Downstate Illinois
At the Illinois Republican State Convention held May 24th and 25th, 2024 in Collinsville, Illinois at the Gateway Convention Center, Rhonda Belford, Hardin County native, was elected as the Illinois RNC National Committeewoman. Belford made history, being the first person from deep Southern Illinois to serve in this role. She was among three nominations reviewed for the top Republican female position in the Illinois Republican Party. Belford will take this seat in July at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, WI.
On Saturday, May 25th, at the biennial reorganizational County Chairmen’s meeting that was also held during the Republican State Convention, Belford was re-elected by acclamation as President of the Republican County Chairmen’s Association, which also serves all 102 counties in Illinois.
The convention is held for Republicans to join hundreds of others from all 102 counties across Illinois for the premier event of year. This year’s theme was “Take me out to the Republican State Convention.” It featured game-changing training sessions by leading experts from across the country, home-run hospitality events where Republicans connected and exchanged thoughts and ideas to promote the Republican Party, and leaders were elected.
After a day of training and connecting on Friday, Saturday’s events began with the General Session which commenced at 11:30 a.m. Delegates from across the state, representing all Illinois counties and a number of wards in the Chicago area, were present to vote on the business of the convention. This included 12 strong resolutions from the Platform and Resolutions Committee to guide the Republican Party as it goes forward.
On its Facebook page, the Tazewell County Illinois Republican Party gave a summary and taste of the atmosphere as the results of the RNC National Committeeman election were achieved that day:
In the past, attendees of this convention have witnessed controversial issues and the fireworks and floor fights associated with them. Saturday’s general session was no different when it came to electing the Illinois RNC National Committeeman. New candidates were being considered by the selection committee to replace both outgoing National Committee people, Richard Porter and Demetra DeMonte.
Winning the committee nomination for the National Committeewoman was Rhonda Belford and for the National Committeeman, Mark Shaw. When this became known on Friday, delegates for one of the National Committeeman candidates, Dean White, became suspicious of the committee vote. A movement began to build coalitions throughout the delegations to disapprove the nominations when they came to the floor. On Saturday, when the motion was made on the convention floor to approve these nominations, the majority of the convention delegates were having nothing to do with approving the motion. There was a roar from both sides as the Chairman called for the Yeas and Nays. Ultimately, a floor standing vote was conducted and the Nays won sending the committee back to reconvene and conduct another vote.
When they returned, the chairman announced that the nominees for the National Committeewoman and National Committeeman would be conducted separately. A second vote was taken for National Committeewoman, Rhonda Belford and the delegation thunderously approved her but, when the delegations were asked to approve Mark Shaw who had again been nominated by the nominating committee, the Chair was unable to determine the results from a voice vote and, again, called for a standing floor vote. After this round, the Nays were even heavier thus again failing the motion.
Again, the committee was sent back to the committee room to figure it out. A vote was taken immediately in that meeting and, this time the results were different with Dean White winning the committee’s nomination, 10 – 7.
Mark Shaw, however, showing concern for the party’s unity, took the podium before the results were announced and withdrew from consideration. He asked his delegates to vote to approve the upcoming motion to approve Dean White as Illinois’ new National Committeeman to the Republican National Committee.
This was a beautiful example of how the system is supposed to work. Delegates worked within the rules of the convention and made their voices heard.
Illinois RNC National Committeemen and Committeewomen roles –
Illinois RNC National Committeemen and Committeewomen are elected to a 4-year term to represent their state party at the national level and represent the RNC in local and state party subdivisions. This work involves teamwork at the different levels of the GOP to coordinate the sharing of communications and other information at the local, state and national levels. It is vital to maintain connections with state party members, candidates and campaigns at all levels.
At the National level, RNC Committee Members’ primary role is to elect the Chairman and Co-Chairman of the Republican National Committee. They are also integral to the formulation of national policies through The Rules of the Republican Party, the Republican Party Platform and Member-submitted resolutions.
Committee Members also provide key guidance on the interpretation of RNC National policies and to provide input on their revision which occurs every four years at the Republican National Convention.
At the State and Local levels, National Committee Members serve as leaders of the Republican Party and fulfil several different roles including- advisor, implementer, fundraiser, moderator, cheerleader, counselor, activist, and motivator. RNC Members can, from time to time, act as spokespersons for the National Committee and respective state party committees.
RNC Committee Members are a reflection on the National Party and the conservative movement. They are viewed as leaders and friends at all levels of the party.
Rhonda currently serves as:
• Trump Alt. Delegate 2024 to the National Convention July 15 -18, 2024
• Hardin County Republican Central Committee as a pc and Chair – 5th Term Chairman
• President of the Republican County Chairmen’s Association (First Female) – now in her second term
• 12th Congressional District State Central Committeewoman – Elected 2022 (Committees: Executive; Training; Election Integrity; Grassroots)
• President, Ohio River Scenic Byway Inc. NFP
• Illinois RNC National Committeewoman Elect
“Having a wide range of Civic, Economic Development, Health Care, Community Affairs and Agriculture Associations and Services throughout the 12th Congressional District, Region and the State gives me a unique set of assets,” said Belford. “Coupling the 12th Congressional District State Central Committee (1/3 of the State) and serving the State of Illinois as its President of the RCCA (all 102 Counties) will put us in a good position to lead the charge for the 2024 Election in Illinois for President Trump. Serving as a proud Delegate in 2020, I am just as proud to serve as an Alternate Delegate for President Trump now, in 2024. My Goal, God willing, is to further Republicans in Illinois, from the courthouse to the White House, uniting Republicans throughout the state and put Illinois in play again at the National level in all regards as it should be.”
