Longtime Trump ally formally succeeds Whatley as Republican Party chair

ATLANTA, GA - Joe Gruters, a longtime ally of President Trump, was voted in as the next Republican National Committee (RNC) chair on Friday.RNC committee members elected Gruters - who had the backing of President Donald Trump - as chair, as they finished up business at their summer meeting, which they are holding this year in battleground Georgia's capital and biggest city.Gruters, a Florida state senator, RNC committee member from the Sunshine State, the national party committee's treasurer, and a longtime Trump ally, will succeed chair Michael Whatley, who is stepping down as he runs for the