ATLANTA - The Georgia Suite sits on the 68th floor of this city's towering Westin hotel downtown, with floor to ceiling windows showcasing skyscraper and city views. From that high perch, the new chair of the Republican National Committee contemplated the high stakes of the 2026 election.
If Democrats win back control of Congress, Donald Trump’s presidency “is basically over,” RNC Chair Joe Gruters, 48, an early Trump backer from Florida, told USA TODAY. While Trump's approval rating has fallen, it's still unclear whether Democrats can muster up enough support to re-take Congress.
Gruters and others are taking no chances.
He and the nation's top Republican leaders have been fanning out across a cavernous Atlanta hotel this week, putting more meat on the bones for their next nationwide campaign plan. While Trump may be term-limited, the president is also right there working to ensure his party remains in power and that Democrats don't win subpoena power to launch investigations or try for a third impeachment against him.
Trump has urged GOP states to redistrict to create more Republican-leaning House seats. He has trumpeted a possible executive order to curtail mail-in ballots. He is laying down an aggressive midterm strategy, and Republicans are gearing up to follow his lead.
