State Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, will likely be the next chairman for the Republican Party of Florida. With support from Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis apparently imminent, and a strong allegiance to President Donald Trump, the local leader seems to have a clear path to the post. Gruters ran for state chair before in 2010, but after falling short has focused on his role as Republican Party of Sarasota chairman and on his own political ambitions. He won a seat in the Florida Legislature in 2016, and in November won a promotion to the state Senate. But he's been heavily involved in state party politics as well. He served as vice chairman of the Republican Party of Florida in 2016, and as co-chair for the Florida arm of Donald Trump's successful presidential campaign.