Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters is acutely aware that the party occupying the White House often loses Congressional seats during the Midterms. This historical trend prompted him to devise a novel approach for this year’s Midterm Convention, nicknamed ‘Trumpapalooza’. Gruters emphasized to Newsweek that defying historical trends requires abandoning past methods. ‘This is a turnout election,’ he stated, highlighting the importance of mobilizing voters, and outlining a substantial grassroots effort planned by the party.
The evidence supports Gruters’ logic. After President Donald Trump’s surprising victory in the 2016 presidential election, Republicans have consistently underperformed when his name is not on the ballot. Swing-state Republicans now actively embrace the president’s influence, which contrasts with their hesitation during Trump’s first term. At that time, the GOP’s traditional leadership maintained significant control, with figures like Mitch McConnell and Ronna McDaniel holding key positions.
Trump’s primacy in the 2024 election led to Michael Whatley, a MAGA ally, assuming the RNC leadership, eventually passing the reins to Gruters in August 2025. Gruters, who previously served in the Florida House of Representatives, gained prominence as the chair of the Florida Republican Party in 2019 before becoming the RNC Treasurer. He regards the modern Republican Party as synonymous with Trump’s Make America Great Again movement.
Polling conducted by UMass Amherst from August 21 to 26, 2026, reveals that approximately one in six Republicans are distancing themselves from Trump. For Gruters, the key to countering this trend and fostering success in the 2026 midterms and beyond lies in ensuring cooperation between state parties and the president. ‘The president has transformed the party completely,’ Gruters told Newsweek, noting the unity among the base and leadership behind Trump. His goal is achieving synchronized efforts within the entire party.
The RNC’s State Party Strategies (SPS) program seeks to bridge national leadership with state parties. It provides assistance ranging from political strategy to communications, data, finance, and training support. The SPS program has conducted over 300 trainings across 53 state and territory parties in the past year, according to the RNC.
A cornerstone of SPS is the Growing Republican Organizations to Win (GROW) Program, designed to strengthen state party operations. The program includes three levels: On the Rise, Leaders’ Circle, and Chairman’s Circle. As states progress through these levels, they receive incentives to further develop their parties. During the 2025–2026 cycle, 55 states entered the program, with 45 completing all levels, receiving over $2.5 million in incentives.
Conversely, the Democratic National Committee under Chair Ken Martin has focused on investing $1 million monthly to bolster state party infrastructure year-round. This approach contributed to a cash balance of $16 million but also amassed $17.9 million in debt. In contrast, the RNC has built a substantial $130.4 million reserve for the upcoming midterms, per FEC filings.
Martin’s strategy emphasizes steady investments and results over accumulated cash. ‘We’ve raised about $100 million more than previous DNC Chair Tom Perez at this point,’ he told Newsweek, stressing their commitment to spending the funds.
Gruters anticipates the RNC’s financial advantage making a significant impact in November, especially if the Midterm Convention energizes the MAGA base. State party chairs like Alex Triantafilou are tasked with directing this energy effectively. Triantafilou, chairman of the Ohio Republican Party, recognizes Gruters as a leader focused on grassroots engagement, similar to his own approach. He values Gruters’ understanding of fundraising pressures and intra-state unity, maintaining communication through regular talks. Gruters, in turn, engages in ‘constant communication’ with the president.
‘The president is popular with the grassroots, but he manages a country, so Joe Gruters focuses day-to-day on grassroots issues,’ Triantafilou stated. Trump remains beloved among grassroots supporters, necessitating alignment with these voters in state party operations.
Despite this favorable view, Rick Wilson, co-founder of the Lincoln Project and former Florida GOP strategist, perceives the current RNC more as a fiefdom serving one man’s power rather than a political party. Wilson criticizes the party’s ideological incoherence, accusing Republicans of sacrificing values for Trump’s supporters, many of whom partake in grassroots organizations but differ from rank-and-file Republicans. He argues Gruters benefitted from existing systems more than as an innovator.
‘Today’s party is purely branding,’ Wilson told Newsweek. He regards the Republican Party as Trump’s domain where loyalists like Chris LaCavita, Tony Fabrizio, and James Blair wield financial control via MAGA Inc.
Gruters dismisses notions of MAGA Inc. overshadowing the RNC, noting Vice President JD Vance’s active role as RNC Finance Chairman. ‘It’s a combined effort,’ Gruters explained, stressing collaboration with Trump. ‘We’ve discussed strategy at dinner just last week. We’re consistently in touch with his team.’
Gruters’ rapport with Trump partly stems from his Florida career, where he built a respected record. Evan Power, current Florida GOP Chairman, recalls how Gruters and Governor Ron DeSantis transformed the state’s political landscape starting in 2019. Florida’s partisan balance shifted dramatically during Gruters’ tenure.
Other Republican chairs echo admiration for Gruters’ influence, noting his active visits to various states for party-building endeavors. Amid high approval ratings, Gruters remains confident in core Republican support for Trump and his agenda.
Gruters is committed to advancing the president’s agenda and ensuring its success, positioning the entire party to support Trump’s endeavors. ‘There’s no daylight between me and the president,’ Gruters affirmed. ‘The party exists to ensure his success.’