Steele Concedes Race, Priebus Takes RNC Chairmanship

UPDATE (5:20): Priebus has surpassed the 90 vote threshold needed for the chairmanship. Anuzis came in second and Cino came in third.

UPDATE (5:16): Ann Wagner has left the race, leaving Preibus, Cino and Anuzis.

UPDATE (4:20pm): After a strong first ballot failed to hold up in subsequent voting, Michael Steele withdrew from his race for reelection. Wisconsin GOP Chair Reince Priebus, who narrowly led Steele 45-44 after the first round, saw his lead climb steadily over the next four rounds. Following the fifth round of voting, Priebus had received 67 votes. Maria Cino, whom Steele endorsed after he dropped out, finished second in that round with 40 votes…

WASHINGTON — Embattled Republication National Committee Chair Michael Steele will likely be ousted from his position Friday after the committee holds its elections.

Steele, who has frustrated many Republicans for being the source of a steady stream of gaffes and scandals, surprised the party by announcing last month that he would seek re-election.

Also vying for a two year term are Reince Priebus, the Chair of the Wisconsin Republican Party, former Bush official Maria Cino, Michigan Republican and new media wunderkind Saul Anuzis, and Missouri party chair Ann Wagner.

Priebus is viewed as the front-runner.

Promising to expand the GOP’s appeal, Steele won the chairman position in early 2009, amid the backdrop of the Obama inauguration. He is the first African American to chair the party and a former Maryland Lieutenant Governor.

Correspondents Geoff Holtzman and Justin Duckham contributed to this story.