Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele dropped his bid for reelection Friday and endorsed Maria Cino to replace him.

“At this time I must step aside for others to lead,” Steele said. “In so doing I hope you appreciate the legacy we leave.”

“Despite the noise, despite the difficulties, we won,” the departing chairman declared.

Cino, a well-connected operative and Pfizer lobbyist, had jumped ahead of Steele on the previous ballot to second place and the two seemed intent on cutting a deal. POLITICO overheard a Steele supporter asking a Cino aide to get Barry Jackson, the chief of staff for Cino-backing House Speaker John Boehner, on the phone to talk to Steele.

Cino currently has 29 votes, but seems poised to gain even more votes.

Steele had previously been meeting with Ann Wagner, the former Missouri GOP chair who was tied with him for third in the last ballot, between sessions. He denied following his meetings with Wagner that he was trying to strike any sort of agreement.

Wisconsin GOP Chairman Reince Priebus remains in the lead to replace Steele and slightly increased his lead in the fourth ballot.

Priebus captured 58 votes from the committee members – up just four votes from 54. Priebus sits 27 votes shy of the 85 needed to win, and at his current pace victory seems a few ballots away if one of the other candidates does not drop out.

Michigan Committeeman Saul Anuzis remains in fifth place, and has been moving between the low and mid 20s in each of the four ballots. He currently sits at 24 votes.

Though Priebus registered the early lead, the fact that he did not crack 50 votes likely means the election will not be determined for several ballots to come. Preibus entered Friday’s vote with 44 public supporters.

Though Priebus is seen as the favorite, both Anuzis and Wagner are believed to have paths to victory. And Cino’s supporters believe her years of experience in Republican politics could sway members looking for a competent chairman after losing hope for their preferred candidate.

(Read More: Politico)