GOP Committee Members Challenge Trump-Backed Chair After Midterm Losses

A growing faction within the Republican National Committee is mounting a challenge to Chairman Joe Gruters, the party leader handpicked by President Donald Trump. The internal conflict has intensified following the Republican Party's significant losses in the recent midterm elections, which marked its worst performance in a generation. While many GOP leaders in Washington have shown little desire to move past the president, a small but vocal group within the RNC is pushing for a change in leadership.

The dissidents are rallying behind KC Crosbie of Kentucky, the committee's second-in-command. She launched her bid for the chairmanship just two days after the November 3 election in a letter that drew sharp criticism from both the White House and Gruters' allies. Although Crosbie remains a vocal supporter of the president's Make America Great Again agenda, her opponents view her campaign as a direct test of Trump's dominance over the party.

RNC member Oscar Brock of Tennessee, a supporter of Crosbie, argued that the committee must serve the party effectively rather than simply agreeing with the White House. He stated that their goal is to elect Republicans broadly, not to support one individual constantly. Brock expressed frustration that the RNC was less effective than it should have been during the recent election cycle.

In her initial statement, Crosbie described the midterm results as a serious setback and called for an honest account of what went wrong. She emphasized the need to preserve what the party has built while confronting where it fell short. The formal leadership election is scheduled for January at the RNC's winter meeting in Arizona. Currently, it is unclear exactly how many members will back her, though some supporters worry about potential backlash from the White House, particularly with Stephen Miller now serving as chief of staff.

Gruters, however, has his own strong base of support. Lauren LePage, an RNC member from Maine, praised the chairman's responsiveness and his record-setting fundraising efforts. She noted that his leadership helped her father, Paul LePage, flip a congressional seat, which was a rare victory for the party. LePage emphasized that Trump's endorsement is something the committee must take seriously. Nevada Republican Party Chairman Michael McDonald also expressed support for Gruters, stating that the president made his choice and that party members must fall in line.

The White House reacted with anger to Crosbie's unsolicited announcement. During a meeting on November 6, Trump threatened to cut off fundraising assistance to the RNC if members did not align with his preferred candidate. A senior White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the president refused to appear at fundraisers or allow his name to be used in solicitations. Such a move would be damaging because Trump remains the party's most effective money raiser. The threats were reported by Axios and distributed to all 168 committee members.

Despite the friction, staff convinced Trump not to attack Crosbie personally in the immediate aftermath. Instead, he posted on Truth Social that he gave Gruters his complete and total endorsement, calling him a MAGA Warrior. The RNC will oversee the 2028 presidential primary process, including the debate schedule and nominating calendar. People close to Gruters described Crosbie's bid as a challenge to the president's political operation, warning that a leadership change would create friction and delay preparations for the next cycle.

The opposition is focused less on policy and more on spending decisions under Gruters. Critics point to the fact that Republicans had a massive fundraising advantage but still lost control of both the House and the Senate. A forensic audit of expenses is being demanded by some members. In a letter to the committee, Gruters defended a $22,500 expenditure for hospitality at the Presidents Cup golf event, which he said resulted in $2.5 million in new contributions.

Gruters also addressed concerns about a brief contract with Caroline Wiles, the daughter of former chief of staff Susie Wiles. He clarified that she was hired by his predecessor and that her six-month engagement ended when he took office. Additionally, he defended paying for hair and makeup services for senior officials, including Trump and Vice President JD Vance, arguing that the expense prevented it from falling to taxpayers. He pledged to listen to members' feedback and provide direct answers as the committee prepares for the future.