Gruters has replaced Michael Whatley, who is now running for Senate in North Carolina.
ATLANTA—The Republican National Committee (RNC) has formally chosen its outgoing treasurer, Florida state Sen. Joe Gruters, as its new leader.
He was elected on Aug. 22 at the RNC’s summer meeting in Atlanta.
“The midterms are ahead, where we must expand our current majority in the House and Senate,” Gruters said after his election.
New York Republican National Committee member Jennifer Rich was also elected treasurer of the RNC, replacing Gruters.
President Donald Trump, now the dominant influence on national GOP leadership, endorsed the Republican from Sarasota on Truth Social on Aug. 1. He described Gruters as a “MAGA warrior” and someone “who has been with us from the very beginning.”
Gruters co-chaired Trump’s 2016 campaign in the Sunshine State, where he defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after Republican presidential candidates lost there in both 2008 and 2012. His co-chair, Susie Wiles, is now the White House chief of staff.
No one challenged Gruters in his effort to replace outgoing Chairman Michael Whatley, another Trump-backed figure. Whatley was elected in March 2024 alongside Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump, who served as the RNC’s vice chair through much of 2024.
On July 31, Whatley launched a campaign for the Senate seat currently held by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). That came just a month after Tillis revealed he would retire at the end of his term, a decision he announced after coming out against Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.
“He will not let you down,” Whatley said of Gruters.
KC Crosbie, the RNC’s co-chair, praised Whatley’s tenure as RNC leader.
“He has completely transformed this organization. He along with co-chair Trump made everything about winning. … What happened in 2024? We won,” she said.
Shawn Steel, the RNC member from California, told The Epoch Times that he was very pleased with the latest moves from Gruters and Whatley.
