Mike Duncan


Robert Michael Duncan is a Kentucky Republican who served as the chairman of the Republican National Committee from 2007 to 2009. Throughout his career he has served on the boards of a variety of public- and private-sector organizations. His public service has been recognized with several distinctions including honorary degrees from Cumberland College, Morehead State University, and the College of the Ozarks.

Early life and career

Duncan was born in Oneida, Tennessee. He is active in numerous professional and nonprofit organizations. He served as chairman of a state university and serves as chairman of the board of trustees at Alice Lloyd College, a private four-year liberal arts college in Pippa Passes, Kentucky. He has served as chairman for the Center for Rural Development in Somerset, Kentucky, a $30 million state-of-the-art regional center emphasizing telecommunications, training, and development. President George W. Bush appointed him to the President's Commission on White House Fellows in 2001.

Public service

Chairman of the Republican National Committee

A lifelong Republican, Duncan was a delegate to the 1972, 1976, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008 Republican National Conventions and is one of the few persons ever to serve on the four standing convention committees. Duncan served as treasurer and general counsel of the Republican National Committee from July 10, 2002, until his election as chairman. In January 2007, he was elected Chairman of the RNC, replacing Ken Mehlman, and served until January 30, 2009, when he withdrew from renomination to the chairmanship.

RNC re-election bid

;RNC chairman vote
Source: CQPolitics, and Poll Pundit
CandidateRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6
Michael Steele464851607991
Katon Dawson282934626977
Saul Anuzis2224243120Withdrew
Ken Blackwell20191515Withdrew
Mike Duncan524844Withdrew''

Chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority

President George W. Bush nominated him to the Tennessee Valley Authority Board; he was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate in March 2006. effective May 18, 2009. He was subsequently elected to serve as the 15th chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority in May 2009 and served until May 2010, when he was replaced by banker Dennis C. Bottorff.

Governor of the United States Postal Service

On September 13, 2018, he became a member of the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service. On December 5, 2019 he was confirmed by the United States Senate to serve another full term ending in December 2025.

Other roles

Duncan also served as director of the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank Cincinnati Branch. From 1989 to 1991, during a sabbatical, he worked in the Bush White House as Assistant Director of Public Liaison. He also served in the Bush Administration as a member of the President's Commission on White House Fellows starting in 2001.

Personal life

Duncan and his wife, Joanne, are 1974 graduates of the University of Kentucky College of Law. Duncan received his undergraduate degree from Cumberland College. They reside in Inez in Martin County in eastern Kentucky. They have one child, Rob, an assistant United States attorney in Lexington, Kentucky, who is married to Valerie Ridder, originally from Springfield, Missouri. The Duncans are the principal owners of two community banks with five offices in eastern Kentucky. His son, Robert M. Duncan Jr., has been United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky from 2017.
On September 10, 2012, Duncan became the new president and CEO of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity.