The results are in; former President Donald Trump will officially be the future and 47th president of the United States. Much of the post-election analysis will focus on the motivating issue sets that moved this or that cohort of voters to cast their ballots the way they did. And rightly so; for all the billions of dollars spent on political ads and messaging, voters are largely moved to act by external, emotional factors that develop an inertia all their own.

That being said, as we examine the results of this historic election, we shouldn’t overlook some of the organizational and operational factors that no doubt contributed to the outsized electoral success of the Trump campaign in 2024.

In his post-victory remarks on Tuesday night, Trump said this was his best campaign ever. The data backs him up; the Republican candidate improved his vote share significantly in a multitude of categories over his 2016 and 2020 performances. While a lot of inputs lead to these results, obviously, don’t underestimate the harmonic effect produced by the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Trump campaign seamlessly singing from the same song book.

Back in March of this year, the RNC elected new leadership. Former NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley, of Gastonia, described in national press as Trump’s handpicked replacement for outgoing Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, was elected chairman. Trump’s daughter-in-law, also a North Carolina native, was elected co-chair.

Much to the chagrin of “Never-Trumpers,” the leadership push was viewed as a “Trump takeover” (a Carolina coup?), unnerving some GOP politicos who worried the rebranding shakeup would come at the expense of foundational platform planks and effective electioneering. What ensued, however, was an eventual synchronicity between the two organizations that has now delivered a historic victory for Republicans in the White House, the US House, and the US Senate.

For context, let’s rewind the clock a bit to consider just how dissonant was the introduction of former Democrat Donald Trump as a GOP presidential nominee to the Republican establishment. It’s no secret that Trump’s entry into the presidential contest nearly a decade ago was viewed less than favorably by a whole host of GOPers, for multiple reasons. The 2016 RNC national convention was even marred by rumors and encouragements of a contested convention, so as to replace the Republican primary voters’ choice of Trump with a nominee more palatable to GOP chattering classes.

It didn’t derail the Trump train, of course.

The head of the RNC in 2016 was Reince Priebus, the longest serving RNC chairman at the time. Trump labeled him a “superstar” and made him White House chief-of-staff following the infamous election victory over Hillary Clinton. But he only briefly served in the post because, in many ways, Priebus was a vestige of the “Bushies” — as the 45th president described them. These were the establishment Republicans Trump regarded as RINOs, believing them partly responsible for a faltering nation. These same Bushies were themselves collectively appalled at the unconventional showman’s ascendancy to the top of the Republican ticket.

Following eight years of divisive Democrat President Barack Obama, and a weak, flawed opponent in Hillary Clinton, Trump’s 2016 election was more an emotional force of nature than it was textbook GOTV and electioneering. In 2017, with Priebus in the White House, albeit briefly, then-President Trump suggested and supported the successful bid of Michigan GOP chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel to lead the RNC.

It was an uncomfortable marriage of convenience.

Again, though, the ethos of the national GOP remained wary of Trump and those in his orbit. Not just on policy, but style points, especially. With McDaniel at the lead, and Trump in the Oval Office, Republicans took a drubbing in the 2018 midterms. In 2020, during the pandemic-plagued election and with plenty of daylight still separating MAGA World and the RNC, Trump lost reelection in the face of historic mail-in voting levels. Following the debacle of Jan. 6, 2021, many established GOPers were eager to end the MAGA aberration.

In 2022, with President Joe Biden presiding over historic inflation, countless boondoggles, and basement-level approval ratings, Republicans were grabbing their surfboards for a historic “Red Wave.” Outside of select states, however, it was a flop.

Overall, the McDaniel tenure as chair of the RNC saw a net loss of seven governorships, three seats in the United States Senate, 19 seats in the House of Representatives, and the presidency. In December 2022, Axios wrote that McDaniel “has thus far failed to preside over a single positive election cycle.”

After three terms, all supported by Trump, McDaniel announced her intentions to resign in 2024. A critical mass of displeasure among grassroots conservative activists in the party called for a leadership change that would complement a Trump 2024 bid, instead of tempering it with squeamishness over mean tweets.

That brings us back to the “Carolina Coup.” In the election of Whatley to RNC chairman, Trump not only got a loyalist (he was instrumental in helping the Trump 2016 campaign in North Carolina), Republicans got an experienced political and legal operator well-versed in organizing campaigns for impact and fighting for election integrity. Moreover, his was leadership with experience in winning; North Carolina was one of the few states to turn in big Republican victories among the largely underwhelming 2022 election results.

(I remember it well, serving as NCGOP director of communications under Whatley’s chairmanship during the cycle.)

With the president’s daughter-in-law as co-chair, and Trump’s co-campaign manager, Chris LaCivita, embedded within RNC leadership as well, the gap between GOP and MAGA had been officially closed. Those still uncomfortable with Trump — whether over policy, principles, or personality — cannot deny the electoral resonance of a candidate singing confidently from the same sheet of music as their party machine.

In the thick of this campaign, candidates, running mates, and surrogates hit messaging chords day-after-day, in critical swing state media markets and beyond. On the ground in swing states, on the Sunday shows, and in the court room, 2024 was a genuine MAGA marriage with experienced Republican winners.

The proof is in the score; oscillating harmonies make a wave. And it’s carrying Trump to the White House, again, in January 2025.