JUST IN: RNC Officially Elects New Chairman

The Republican National Committee has officially elected a new chairman to lead the national party. Over the weekend, Florida State Sen. Joe Gruters won the vote to replace outgoing chairman Michael Whatley, who is running for a Senate seat in North Carolina. Gruters was backed by President Donald Trump for the position.

“Thank you all so much, now the party’s in great hands moving forward – the skies are clear,” Gruters wisecracked. “No, I love the chairman, what an incredible honor.”

The vote to confirm Gruters as the next chairman happened at the RNC’s summer meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. Gruters formerly served as the organization’s treasurer and ran unopposed with the backing of the president.

“MAGA Warrior Joe Gruters, who has been with us from the very beginning, is running to become the next Chairman of the Republican National Committee,” Trump went on to write on social media earlier this month, giving Gruters “my Complete and Total Endorsement.”

Whatley, who Gruters is replacing, took control over the RNC from chairwoman Ronna McDaniel in 2024. McDaniel decided to leave the position after tensions arose between her and Trump. Whatley stepped down from the seat at the top of the Republican Party totem pole to launch his senatorial campaign following the announcement that Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) was retiring.

“Because of the incredible work of every member of the RNC, we had front-row seats to the greatest political comeback in American history,” Whatley wrote in comments marking his departure. “After receiving a call from President Trump, I am proud to announce that I am stepping down from the RNC as chair, and going back to the old North state. With President Trump’s complete and total endorsement, I am running to be the next senator from the state of North Carolina.”

“President Trump has wholly endorsed Joe Gruters to serve as our next RNC chairman. Joe is a true conservative fighter, and he’s been a steadfast ally of President Trump’s since day one,” Whatley added.

Giving Gruters a strong head start as leader at the RNC is a treasure chest of $80 million in cash on hand to work with. That’s more than five times what its Democratic Party counterpart has.

“Listen, we’re in great shape from a financial standpoint because of Michael Whatley, because our chairman has been grinding and has been doing fundraising meeting after fundraising meeting,” Gruters commented at the meeting on Friday.

Something that could prove to be a hangup during Gruters’ time as the chairman is his contentious relationship with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The two men have locked horns over several issues, meaning that if the governor decides to run for another presidential term, he would be vying for the nomination of a party partially controlled by an individual he has previously traded blows with.