Priebus

Wisconsin GOP Chairman Reince Priebus won the race for RNC Chairman Friday after seven rounds of voting. He received 97 votes, well over the 85 needed to win.

Priebus had plurality every round, including the first round when he led then-RNC Chairman Michael Steele 45-44. Steele bowed out of the race shortly before the fifth round of voting.

"I want to thanks all the RNC members who believed in my vision," Priebus said Friday after his victory was announced. "[They] understood that some significant work that we need to do on the committee has to get done and be on track."

RNC Michigan Committeeman Saul Anuzis came in second with 43 votes, and former RNC official Maria Cino came in third with 28. Cino was backed by House Speaker John Boehner as well as Steele after he withdrew himself from the running. 

Former Missouri GOP Chair Ann Wagner also gathered several votes throughout the election, but withdrew her name before the seventh round of voting. She voiced her desire to "block Obama in 2012" before leaving the podium. Priebus echoed her views in his victory speech.

"I understand that the challenges the lie ahead of us go well past raising funds," Priebus said. "We must know how to spend these funds effectively...and be sure that our Presidential nominee has the organization in place to beat Barack Obama."