The Republican Party in the US has for the first time in its history chosen an African-American to lead the party.
Michael Steele, a former Lieutenant Governor of the state of Maryland, was elected chairman of the Republican National Committee after six rounds of voting.
Mr Steele, a Roman Catholic former corporate lawyer, fought for the position on a platform of finding ways to use new technology to connect with the conservative grassroots.
In his victory speech, Mr Steele acknowledged the historic nature of the vote and the need to take Republicans in a new direction.
