August 22, 2025
Florida loyalist Joe Gruters elected RNC chair as Trump tightens party control
State party boss seizes national GOP control apparatus
🏛️Government🗳️Elections📊Electoral Systems
Republican National Committee members unanimously elected Florida State Senator Joe Gruters as chairman August 22, 2025, replacing Michael Whatley who resigned to run for U.S. Senate.
Gruters, Trump's ally since 2015 who chaired Florida GOP during its red shift, takes control of $84 million while becoming the first RNC chair to support marijuana legalization—a stance that could fracture evangelical coalition over drug policy contradictions and generational divides.
Republican National Committee unanimously elected Florida State Senator 
Joe Gruters as chairman August 22, 2025, at Atlanta summer meeting after Trump endorsement cleared the field of opposition
Gruters becomes the first RNC chairman to support marijuana legalization, having backed Florida's Amendment 3 in 2024 calling it 'a common-sense decision that prioritizes individual freedom'
Trump praised Gruters for helping deliver 'Massive and Historic Victories' in Florida and turning the state 'RED AS RED CAN BE' during his tenure as Florida GOP chair from 2019-2023
Under Gruters' Florida leadership, Republicans flipped a 263,000 Democratic voter registration advantage in 2018 to a 292,000 GOP advantage by 2022—a swing of over 555,000 voters
Gruters replaces 
Michael Whatley who resigned to run for U.S. Senate in North Carolina with Trump's backing, making Gruters the fourth RNC chair in Trump's eight years of party control
The RNC holds an $84 million cash advantage over the Democratic National Committee's $14 million heading into 2026 midterms where Republicans must defend narrow House and Senate majorities
Gruters' pro-cannabis stance creates potential tension with evangelical base as Trump hints at federal marijuana rescheduling 'in the next few weeks' despite traditional GOP opposition
🏛️Government🗳️Elections📊Electoral Systems
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What You Can Do
1
Support primary challengers who prioritize constituents over Trump loyalty at BallotReady.org to research local candidates with independent judgment rather than yes-men from Florida
2
Contact Republican legislators at 202-224-3121 demanding they represent voters' interests rather than rubber-stamp party headquarters decisions from Trump's Palm Beach resort circle
3
Join RepresentUs.org campaigns for competitive elections requiring neutral boundaries rather than politicians choosing voters through gerrymandered safe seats that eliminate accountability
4
Donate to pro-democracy organizations like Issue One and Campaign Legal Center fighting against unlimited dark money influence in party operations and candidate selection
5
Attend local GOP meetings to demand transparency about RNC spending priorities and whether $84 million war chest serves voters or Trump family political interests
6
Research cannabis policy positions of local Republican candidates since Gruters' marijuana support may signal broader party evolution on criminal justice reform issues