Lee Zeldin declines to challenge Ronna McDaniel for RNC Chair

Dec. 7 (UPI) -- New York Rep. Lee Zeldin announced on Wednesday that he would not challenge Ronna McDaniel for the Republican National Committee Chair.

Zeldin also urged the three-time chairwoman to step aside, saying that it was time for new leadership.

"Change is desperately needed, and there are many leaders, myself included, ready and willing to step up to ensure our party retools and transforms as critical elections fast approach," Zeldin said in a statement. "However, the issue is Chairwoman McDaniel's re-election appears to already be pre-baked, as if the disappointing results of every election during her tenure, including yesterday in Georgia, do not and should not even matter.

Zeldin had said last month that he was seriously considering challenging McDaniel. However, a majority of the RNC's voting members signed a letter endorsing her for a fourth term.

Zeldin's call comes after Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., defeated his Republican-challenger, Herschel Walker, in a run-off election on Tuesday. Walker's defeat caps a lackluster midterm for the Republican Party, after many had talked of a "red wave."