Ronna Romney

Ronna Eileen Romney ( Stern; born September 24, 1943) is an American Republican politician and former radio talk show host.

Early life and family Romney, née Stern, was born in Detroit, Michigan to parents Eileen Boyd and James Albert Stern. She graduated from Seaholm High School in Birmingham, Michigan in 1961. Romney received a bachelor's degree from Oakland University. She also attended Michigan State University. Stern was 23 years old, divorced, and had a three-year-old son. She had converted to Mormonism after meeting Scott. They would divorce in 1992.

Through her ex-husband, she was the sister-in-law of Mitt Romney, who would later serve as Governor of Massachusetts (2003-2007) and U.S. Senator from Utah (2019-2025), and was the 2012 Republican nominee for president.

Ronna Stern Romney's sister, Terry (Stern) Rakolta, gained prominence as an anti-obscenity activist in the late 1980s; Terry's husband, John Rakolta, is a Detroit businessman who served as U.S. ambassador to the United Arab Emirates from 2019 to 2021, and was a national finance chair for Mitt Romney's 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns.

Career Romney began her political career with extensive involvement in political fundraising, advising, and volunteering. One of her earliest roles was serving as campaign finance chairman for Richard Headlee's unsuccessful campaign during the 1982 gubernatorial election. Headlee was a former campaign manager for George W. Romney, and a prominent Mormon in Michigan. Ronna went on to serve as a Commissioner of the President's National Advisory Council on Adult Education under President Ronald Reagan from 1982 to 1985. Romney's former brother-in-law Mitt Romney, then a candidate for the United States Senate in Massachusetts, returned to Michigan to help campaign for her. Romney's daughter, the future Chairman of the Republican National Committee Ronna Romney McDaniel, volunteered as a driver during her campaign. Abraham would serve one term in the United States Senate and become the 10th United States Secretary of Energy.

Romney was again a candidate for the United States Senate in 1996. She narrowly defeated businessman James B. Nicholson in the Republican primary to secure the nomination. In the general election, Romney lost to incumbent Senator Carl Levin by a large margin.

Romney has written two books. She co-authored a book, Momentum: Women in American Politics Now in 1988. Romney had previously co-authored a book on marriage, Giving Time a Chance: The Secret of Lasting Marriage in 1985 prior to her second divorce.

After failing to win a place in the United States Senate, Romney returned to the private sector and remarried. She has served on the Board of Directors of Molina Healthcare since 1999. She is currently married to Bruce Kulp She has also campaigned for her relatives. Romney campaigned for her former husband, Scott, in his unsuccessful primary campaign for Michigan Attorney General in 1998. Romney aggressively campaigned and fundraised for Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign. Romney remains a best friend of Mitt's wife, Ann Romney.