Trump backs Gruters for second RNC term after GOP midterm losses

Democrats currently lead 253-158 in the race for House seats, according to data from DDHQ. As of Friday, they also hold a 54-44 majority in the Senate.

President Donald Trump formally endorsed Joe Gruters on Friday for a second term as chair of the Republican National Committee. The endorsement came on Truth Social, days after the party absorbed sweeping defeats in the Tuesday midterm elections. Trump urged Republicans to rally behind Gruters to continue building the party and ensuring free and fair elections.

The president described Gruters as "100 [percent] America First" and stated that the party's grassroots love him. In the post, Trump claimed that Gruters turned the RNC into an efficient and powerful machine that will empower the America First Agenda for years to come.

The endorsement lands in the middle of a leadership contest within the party. RNC co-Chair KC Crosbie announced she will challenge Gruters for the top post when the committee votes in January. Crosbie, a Trump ally, pointed directly at the midterm results in a letter announcing her bid. She wrote that Tuesday's results were a serious setback and that Democrats will control both chambers of Congress.

Crosbie noted that the party lost in places it has long counted on. She argued that voters were focused on the cost of living and the direction of the country. While she called improvements in field operations and voter contact valuable, she stated they did not address those specific concerns or deliver the needed results.

Democrats scored widespread victories in the midterm elections, winning key battleground states and flipping a number of red states. They also gained majorities in state legislatures.

The next step in the internal process is the committee vote scheduled for January, where Crosbie and Gruters will compete for the chairmanship.