Longtime Trump ally Gruters expected to succeed Whatley as Republican Party chair

ATLANTA, GA - Incoming Republican National Committee (RNC) chair Joe Gruters will formally take over steering the national party committee on Friday.RNC committee members are expected to elect Gruters - who has the backing of President Donald Trump - as chair, as they finish 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 do