MIAMI — Sydney Gruters, previously the executive director at New College Foundation and married to RNC Chair Joe Gruters, has announced her candidacy for Congress in Florida.
Gruters is stepping up to fill the vacancy left by retiring GOP Rep. Vern Buchanan, who has been a significant figure in Southwest Florida’s political landscape and a strong fundraiser. She stands out as the only candidate in Florida’s open races with an endorsement from President Donald Trump, which enhances her position as a leading contender for the GOP nomination.
Although Joe Gruters holds a key national position, Sydney Gruters, 44, is a familiar figure in her local district, possessing extensive knowledge of congressional duties. Her career largely involved working with House members in political and governmental roles, all while raising three children. In a statement, she emphasized her commitment to addressing high living costs.
“I’ve spent my career helping people solve problems and get results,” she stated. “Southwest Florida deserves a representative who understands this community, shares its values, and will fight every day to lower the cost of living, expand opportunity and build a stronger future for our families.”
While other open House seats in Florida have seen a surge of candidates, significant potential opponents have refrained from entering the race in Florida’s conservative-leaning 16th District following reports of Sydney Gruters considering a run.
“There’s just a genuine respect — and that’s why you don’t have a bunch of challengers,” said former Florida Senate President Bill Galvano, who endorses her candidacy and has known Gruters since her early days as a congressional staffer. “This isn’t a question of whether you can beat her. It’s a question of, ‘Is this a good person to fill this role?’ And the resounding reaction has been ‘Yes.’”
Gruters began her career with the congressional campaign of Katherine Harris (R-Fla.) and then worked in various roles for Buchanan over a decade. Under Trump’s first administration, she was appointed as the rural development state director for Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, managing six offices and an 80-person team. Before joining New College of Florida, she served as district director for GOP Rep. Greg Steube.
In her district roles, staffers assist constituents with navigating complex government agencies such as Social Security, FEMA, and the IRS, explained Tara Poulton, district chief of staff for Buchanan and a candidate for the Manatee County commission. Poulton has regarded Gruters as a key resource and mentor.
“I have always respected her leadership and her dedication,” Poulton remarked, “and she’s incredibly qualified.”
Gruters’ involvement at New College, a small liberal arts state college in Sarasota, placed her in a high-profile educational environment. In 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis aimed to reform the institution by appointing conservative-leaning trustees to establish a classical education curriculum. In October, the college became the first to join Trump’s proposed compact, offering schools federal funding in exchange for supporting his policy priorities regarding college finance, hiring, and admissions.
The changes at New College received mixed feedback, with some students, parents, and faculty labeling it a “hostile takeover.” Critics also argue that the school’s spending has been excessive, citing a recent report that noted its per-student expenses exceed those of other state colleges and universities.
However, supporters contend that investment was essential due to years of neglect and declining enrollment, which had brought the college near closure. The college’s enrollment has reached new heights following these changes.
The foundation Gruters led up until Wednesday is a separate nonprofit that manages and raises private donations for the college. Since joining, she increased the school’s assets from $39 million to $54 million, according to New College President Richard Corcoran, who has known Gruters since her time at the University of Florida.
“She knows what she believes and is going to fight to the nth degree for those things — but she will do it in a way that’s kind,” Corcoran commented. “I’ll be 100 percent devastated that she’s leaving. And I’ll be 100 percent behind her.”
Alice Rothbauer, who was development director at the foundation, said Gruters’ congressional experience, which involved managing calls from constituents seeking help, prepared her to address the scrutiny faced by the college while promoting its vision for the future as it pursued “a different narrative for higher education.” Rothbauer described Gruters as a “quiet force” who valued teamwork.
“She’s sort of like a swan: graceful, diplomatic, dignified — but under the water she’s peddling as hard as everyone around her.”
If elected, Gruters would take over a seat Buchanan held for 20 years. The Gruters couple shares a close relationship with Buchanan, and Jim Boyd, the Republican state Senate majority leader, described them as gracious and supportive of his and others’ political efforts, aligned in their conservative views on family, community, and business.
“Joe has earned the ability and opportunity to serve our national party and Sydney has been supportive and helpful all along the way,” Boyd stated. “It’s very nice that Sydney is willing to offer herself up for public service and is stepping into the arena to serve.”
In response to a potential run by Gruters, Christine Kennedy Meier, Manatee County Democratic Party Chair, criticized her as a “Trump rubber stamp” who “helped dismantle higher education in Sarasota,” and asserted that voters were ready for “a breath of fresh air and something new.”
“It’s a consolidation of power through backroom deals and covert conversations that strip the power away from the people,” Meier said.
Joe Gruters is recognized as a longstanding Trump ally, having co-chaired Trump’s 2016 Florida campaign with Susie Wiles, the current White House chief of staff. However, he has also had notable disagreements with DeSantis, opposing most of his legislative colleagues by supporting Trump for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. In a statement following his wife’s endorsement by Trump, he emphasized the RNC’s requirement for neutrality in primaries, adding, “Any support I provide would be in a purely personal capacity.”
POLITICO had previously reported on Joe Gruters’ interest in running, which the RNC denied. Allies of the couple quickly dismissed rumors that Sydney Gruters planned to hold the seat only briefly for her husband’s subsequent run. Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.), a close friend of Joe Gruters, criticized these predictions as “misogynistic” and said, “I think Joe would tell you she’s smarter than him.”
“She’s had to put up with Joe so she’ll have the patience to deal with Washington, D.C.,” Fine said humorously of his “gregarious, outgoing” friend. “Sydney keeps him grounded and focused on the things that have to get done.”
Andrew Atterbury contributed to this report.
