RNC chair says Republicans have voter turnout problem

Republican National Committee chair Joe Gruters acknowledged a turnout problem for his party two days before the 3 November midterm elections. Asked about it on Sunday, he said Democrats tended to vote early while Republicans were more likely to vote on election day. He said the Republican base was motivated, but warned supporters that the party could not win if they stayed away from the polls. Republicans were seeking to retain control of both chambers of Congress.

Gruters pointed to President Donald Trump’s campaign activity as part of the effort to bring voters out. The RNC had announced a final push of telephone rallies covering 19 states. His remarks came amid wider Republican concern about Democratic enthusiasm and the challenge of mobilising people who voted for Trump in 2024 but do not routinely vote in midterms. The early-vote gap alone could not establish the final result: Gruters was counting on a stronger Republican turnout on election day.