Sarasota's Gruters unanimously elected RNC Chairman

Florida Senator Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota) was unanimously elected Chairman of the Republican National Committee on Friday, following a strong endorsement from President Donald Trump. Gruters served as Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida from 2019 to 2023.

"We are confident that Joe will excel at the national level, just as he has in Sarasota County and throughout Florida," said Jack Brill, Chairman of the Republican Party of Sarasota County, in a statement following the announcement. "He led the Sarasota County GOP to be a shining example of how local parties grow and win elections. And then he did it again as Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida."

Gruters, 48, served as chairman of the Republican Party of Sarasota for ten years, a tenure longer than that of any of his predecessors. He was an early supporter of Rick Scott during his successful 2010 campaign for governor of Florida, and has since become President Trump's closest political ally in Florida after breaking for Trump early in last year's primary process, igniting an ongoing fued with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who Grueters has since displaced at the state's most influencial Republican officeholder on the national scene. 

Gruters will replace Michael Whatley, the current chairman of the Republican National Committee. Whatley is stepping down to run for a US Senate seat in North Carolina. The vote took place at the RNC’s summer meeting in Atlanta. Gruters was unopposed following the endorsement from Trump. 

“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 wrote on Truth Social earlier this month, giving Gruters his “Complete and Total Endorsement.”