As Chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC), Joe Gruters has a national outlook on what 2026 will look like for Republicans — and as Sydney Gruters’s husband, he has a firsthand look at the granularities of what running for Congress with President Donald Trump’s support looks like going into the midterms.
Gruters knows that midterms are rarely kind for the party in power, but he told the Washington Reporter in his latest interview that the GOP can defy history.
“If you take a step back, look at where are we at right now, and how we got the candidates that we have, and we got them because President Trump has played an active role in hand selecting his MAGA warriors,” Gruters said. “He has put us in a position where we have the favorable matchups. On both the House and Senate sides, we have candidates who can win, we have candidates who will support the president’s agenda. Now, it’s how do you deliver in your home district, and it’s really by talking about all the great things this president has done, and creating a contrast with what the opposition wants to do.”
“Decline is an option,” Gruters continued. “Do you think America is great? Do you think we can do better? Do you think we should move in a direction that the president wants to take us in and make us the best possible place to live, work, and play? Do you want to give the American worker the chance to have the ability to live to achieve the American Dream? It’s those affordability issues, and now that this conflict’s gone with Iran, you already see gas prices are now on average below $4…People have the option, and when given the choice, they’re going to choose common sense and reasonableness rather than socialism and these left-wing wackadoo candidates of the left.”
But, Gruters said, he is not alone in giving the GOP reason to be optimistic. “Go to the Cook Political Report,” he said. “They have 18 toss-up seats. They give us the lead at 212 right now, so we need five of the 18 to win. My guess is that we win more like ten of those. I think we increase the margin, and that’s only going to happen based on our side coming together, being united, supporting the president and his policies, and what he’s done, and what he wants to continue to do.”
Closer to home, where his wife is running with Trump’s support to succeed Rep. Vern Buchanan (R., Fla.), Gruters credits years of conservative leadership unders Govs. Ron DeSantis (R., Fla.) and Rick Scott (R., Fla.) for Florida being “ruby red.”
Under DeSantis’s leadership, Florida was one of many states that redistricted mid-decade, and Gruters is optimistic that the GOP will net four seats from those results. “We’ve got great candidates running,” he said. “I’ve talked to all the candidates in these races, but I haven’t endorsed yet, and neither has President Trump. The president is giving them some work to see how they all do before he gets involved. We have a great opportunity. We’re going to defy history, and we’re going to win the House. I always tell people, don’t take my word for it.”
While Democrats are running with history on their side, Gruters noted that two pending Supreme Court cases are poised to structurally reform America’s election system in a way that favors his party.
One of the cases, National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) v. Federal Election Commission, is poised to remove restrictions on coordination that candidates can do with party committees, like Gruters’s RNC. “There’s no bigger case that will change the way how campaigns are run at the federal level more than this case,” he said of the case.
“The coordinated campaign limits case will allow the Republican National Committee and the DNC, for that matter, to coordinate directly with campaigns,” Gruters explained. “After $66,000 you have to basically build a wall, and you can’t have that back and forth. This will allow us to see exactly what’s going on in the campaign and to make sure that we can provide the resources and support where it’s needed the entire time, which should always happen, and then, of course, the bigger thing is it’s going to allow us to spend at the candidate rate, which is the nonprofit mail rate, and the lowest possible rate for TV, which could be 20 cents on the dollar. When you look at the fact that we’re sitting on $125 million and the DNC is at -$4 million, our dollars are worth, let’s say, say $250 or $300 million, their money’s worth zero still. We’re going to be able to obliterate these guys, and then we’re going to be able to work directly with the candidates and make sure that we’re having maximum efficiency. The Democrats just haven’t looked at this as a priority, and they’re doing everything they can to block it, but it’s a complete game changer.”
The other, Watson v. Republican National Committee, will determine what “Election Day” means, he said.
“On Election Day, once polls close, there should be a total ballot number, so you know how many ballots have been filed, and then you shouldn’t be able to add to that number, and that will be the biggest game changer from that law, but the idea needs implementation,” he said. “We’ve lost races across the board by these states using that current system. We’ve lost Senate races, House races…Election Day should mean Election Day. When I was out in front of the Supreme Court a couple of weeks ago, I talked about how the Republican National Committee is on the verge of our biggest election integrity win ever in the history of the party. Because Election Day should mean Election Day, they should not be able to count the ballots, they should not be able to accept new ballots after Election Day to get their desired vote for what they want. It makes no sense. I’m hopeful that we’re going to be able to put an end to it.”
The Supreme Court is expected to side with the GOP on both of those cases, which would be the latest in a series of major wins the party has had on election integrity cases. The GOP currently has 150 active cases involving election integrity, which Gruters noted is the most in its history.
It recently scored a win in Maine against the state’s ranked-choice voting system, and he expects that Alaska voters will repeal the state’s version as well.
“We’re on fire from an election integrity standpoint,” he said. “We’re winning a lot of these cases, and I don’t think the Democrats know how to respond, because the law is usually not on their side.”
More broadly, he also thinks the issue sets in 2026 favor Republicans. “It’s about connecting with those local voters, and contrasting the difference between what you can offer versus what the Democrats offer, which is open borders, toxic poison flowing through and killing our kids, law and order, and just the overall cleanup of the country,” he said. “People have the option, and when given the choice, they’re going to choose common sense and reasonableness rather than socialism and these left-wing wackadoo candidates of the left.”
He also pointed to programs like Trump Rx as ways that Trump is “going to bat for the average American since day one.”
Trump Rx, he said, is “another way where the president has championed something for everybody, and he’s bringing prescription drug costs down and making sure that Americans have the benefit of paying what other countries pay and trying to get prices as low as possible. It all goes back to affordability, and making sure that people can live the American Dream, and part of that is making sure that you can pay your bills and live a decent life.”
He even pointed to the work that Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum are doing to beautify Washington, D.C. as another contrast between Republicans and Democrats.
While Trump and Burgum are working to clean up D.C., Democrats have been reluctant to embrace their blueprint, he noted. He chalks that up to “complacency, and it’s them being happy with the status quo.”
“The president is right to want that from a cleanliness standpoint, from a safety standpoint, because at the end of the day people want safe neighborhoods and they want safe streets, they want good schools, they want the ability to live the American Dream,” he added. “Nobody’s been focused on that, and the D.C. elitists have sold the American worker down the street for five decades. This president’s been working every single day for the average American.”
Below is a transcript of our interview with RNC Chair Joe Gruters, lightly edited for clarity.
Washington Reporter:
There have been primaries from coast to coast, and in California we still do not have anywhere near all of the votes counted in a lot of these major Democratic jurisdictions. What’s your sense as to why Democrats and Democratic-run jurisdictions are not able to do this.
RNC Chair Joe Gruters:
It’s a combination of incompetence and the fact that they’re trying to cheat. Every single day, they try to figure out ways to gain an advantage of the system, and they used every tactic imaginable to try to turn the elections their way. That’s why the RNC is engaged in over 150 lawsuits. We’re suing from coast to coast to make sure that we’re bringing the hammer in trying to bring fairness to the system. When I took over as RNC Chair, President Trump gave me a very clear directive, and he wanted to ensure that our elections are secure and free of fraud, and that’s exactly what we’ve been doing, and we’re very proactive. We’re on fire from an election integrity standpoint. We’re winning a lot of these cases, and I don’t think the Democrats know how to respond, because the law is usually not on their side. Common sense and reasonableness is not on their side. We can look at California and what happened with Spencer Pratt, for example. The fact that all these ballots, none of them voted for Spencer, the odds of something like that happening are against us, and it reminds us of 2020. Election Day should mean Election Day. When I was out in front of the Supreme Court a couple of weeks ago, I talked about how the Republican National Committee is on the verge of our biggest election integrity win ever in the history of the party. Because Election Day should mean Election Day, they should not be able to count the ballots, they should not be able to accept new ballots after Election Day to get their desired vote for what they want. It makes no sense. I’m hopeful that we’re going to be able to put an end to it.
Washington Reporter:
Looking on the other coast with Maine, we still have no idea who the nominees for governor are for both Republicans and Democrats, because of this ranked choice voting that’s been implemented in their state-level primaries. Why is this something that the RNC has been actively litigating against, both in Maine and across the country?
RNC Chair Joe Gruters:
We won in Maine. I was out in Alaska just a couple of weeks ago talking about the ranked choice voting that they have there, and trying to help that effort. Everything that they try to do is all for gaming the system. We’re putting an end to it. It goes back to making sure elections are secure and free of fraud. Maine was a big victory. I think they’re going to reject ranked choice voting in Alaska as well. That actually referendum almost passed last time. I think it will pass this time. We’re grinding every single day from a legal standpoint and making sure that we get rid of laws that undermine the system and we’re working every day to enforce basic concepts like enforcing voter ID laws, basic things like preventing non-citizens from voting, securing the mail-in ballot processes, and of course updating and making sure voting rules are accurate. They purposely hide things because they don’t want to shine the truth on the situation. Sunshine is the best truth. They should be doing that willingly, and they’re not.
Washington Reporter:
The RNC has 150 active cases in the election integrity space. Is that the most you’ve ever had at the RNC at one time?
RNC Chair Joe Gruters:
That is correct. We’re bringing the hammer wherever we can. We’re trying to turn the tide. We were pretty reactive for a long time. I don’t want to use this term in a bad way, but we’re using lawfare to make sure that we protect the rights and the fundamental basic right of voting to make sure that we can have confidence in the overall system.
Washington Reporter:
Can you tell me about some of those 150? Which are particularly important?
RNC Chair Joe Gruters:
The two biggest lawsuits that we’re going to have are going to both be decided shortly. Those are about the coordinated campaign limits, which is going to change the way campaigns are run forever. And then, of course, the lawsuit with the Watson case. The coordinated campaign limits case will allow the Republican National Committee and the DNC, for that matter, to coordinate directly with campaigns. After $66,000 you have to basically build a wall, and you can’t have that back and forth. This will allow us to see exactly what’s going on in the campaign and to make sure that we can provide the resources and support where it’s needed the entire time, which should always happen, and then, of course, the bigger thing is it’s going to allow us to spend at the candidate rate, which is the nonprofit mail rate, and the lowest possible rate for TV, which could be 20 cents on the dollar. When you look at the fact that we’re sitting on $125 million and the DNC is at -$4 million, our dollars are worth, let’s say, say $250 or $300 million, their money’s worth zero still. We’re going to be able to obliterate these guys, and then we’re going to be able to work directly with the candidates and make sure that we’re having maximum efficiency. The Democrats just haven’t looked at this as a priority, and they’re doing everything they can to block it, but it’s a complete game changer. There’s no bigger case that will change the way how campaigns are run at the federal level more than this case. On Election Day, once polls close, there should be a total ballot number, so you know how many ballots have been filed, and then you shouldn’t be able to add to that number, and that will be the biggest game changer from that law, but the idea needs implementation. We’ve lost races across the board by these states using that current system. We’ve lost Senate races, House races.
Washington Reporter:
More broadly, what do Republicans need to be doing to defy history?
RNC Chair Joe Gruters:
If you take a step back, look at where are we at right now, and how we got the candidates that we have, and we got them because President Trump has played an active role in hand selecting his MAGA warriors. He has put us in a position where we have the favorable matchups. On both the House and Senate sides, we have candidates who can win, we have candidates who will support the president’s agenda. Now, it’s how do you deliver in your home district, and it’s really by talking about all the great things this president has done, and creating a contrast with what the opposition wants to do. Decline is an option. Do you think America is great? Do you think we can do better? Do you think we should move in a direction that the president wants to take us in and make us the best possible place to live, work, and play? Do you want to give the American worker the chance to have the ability to live to achieve the American Dream? It’s those affordability issues, and now that this conflict’s gone with Iran, you already see gas prices are now on average below $4. In Florida, I just drove by one where it was $3.80, so those prices are already being pushed down. It’s about connecting with those local voters, and contrasting the difference between what you can offer versus what the Democrats offer, which is open borders, toxic poison flowing through and killing our kids, law and order, and just the overall cleanup of the country. People have the option, and when given the choice, they’re going to choose common sense and reasonableness rather than socialism and these left-wing wackadoo candidates of the left.
Washington Reporter:
Your home state of Florida had some big changes via redistricting in the past couple of weeks. Are there any of those races that you’re particularly honing into? How has that reshaped the map for 2026?
RNC Chair Joe Gruters:
Florida, as a result of the conservative leadership we’ve had in our state, is ruby red. Now, these four congressional seats we picked up, I think we win all four. We’ve got great candidates running, and they’re moving forward. I’ve talked to all the candidates in these races, but I haven’t endorsed yet, and neither has President Trump. The president is giving them some work to see how they all do before he gets involved. We have a great opportunity. We’re going to defy history, and we’re going to win the House. I always tell people, don’t take my word for it. Go to the Cook Political Report. They have 18 toss-up seats. They give us the lead at 212 right now, so we need five of the 18 to win. My guess is that we win more like ten of those. I think we increase the margin, and that’s only going to happen based on our side coming together, being united, supporting the president and his policies, and what he’s done, and what he wants to continue to do.
Washington Reporter:
What’s the Gruters household like with you running the RNC, and your wife running for Congress?
RNC Chair Joe Gruters:
It’s interesting. She’s always the boss; she’s always been the boss of my household. There’s no question. Listen, she’s a better candidate than I am. She’s more conservative. She’s better looking. Across the board, she wins, and she’s working every day. It really is impressive to see her out there pounding the pavement and doing what she needs to do. I try to give her advice, but I’m always on the road. She has her own campaign team, and I try to tune in, and sometimes I get to chime in.
Washington Reporter:
You were mentioning that decline is a choice; I was just on a D.C. beautification tour with Doug Burgum, where he was driving around and showing me the improvements that he and Trump have made to the capital of the free world, and he described what he and Trump have done with this as a blueprint that Democratic-run cities can take, and yet it seems like almost none are lining up to do that. What do you chalk that up to?
RNC Chair Joe Gruters:
It’s complacency, and it’s them being happy with the status quo. The president is right to want that from a cleanliness standpoint, from a safety standpoint, because at the end of the day people want safe neighborhoods and they want safe streets, they want good schools, they want the ability to live the American Dream. Nobody’s been focused on that, and the D.C. elitists have sold the American worker down the street for five decades. This president’s been working every single day for the average American. He’s bringing in trillions of dollars worth of investments. Some of these are not going to pay off in the short term. These are long-term projects; just looked at the Iran situation. For 47 years, people were unwilling to take a stand because the political risk is so high and the reward is so low, but he’s willing to do the right thing every time to make sure that our country is the best possible position. I’m incredibly grateful to be able to serve as his chairman, and I’m thankful to continue to move forward, but we’ve got to make sure that we come together and give him the ability to have a majority in the House and the Senate for the last two years, so we could pass things like the SAVE America Act and finish on a strong note.
Washington Reporter:
You were mentioning affordability; tell me about Trump Rx; how is that impacting the midterms?
RNC Chair Joe Gruters:
That’s another way where the president has championed something for everybody, and he’s bringing prescription drug costs down and making sure that Americans have the benefit of paying what other countries pay and trying to get prices as low as possible. It all goes back to affordability, and making sure that people can live the American Dream, and part of that is making sure that you can pay your bills and live a decent life. Between the Working Families Tax Cuts and Trump Rx, and everything else across the board, the guy’s been going to bat for the average American since day one.
Washington Reporter:
It’s great to chat with you as always. I heard the news that Kiersten Pels is leaving you guys. I will tell you from my standpoint, she did a great job working with you and the GOP, and I’m excited for what’s next for her.
RNC Chair Joe Gruters:
I’m very sad she’s leaving.
Washington Reporter:
Talk soon, Chairman.
