Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.* Late last week, the Republican National Committee elected Florida’s Joe Gruters as its new chair to succeed Michael Whatley,

Florida Sen. Joe Gruters was elected without opposition on Friday as the next Republican National Committee chairman, expanding the state party’s influence in national politics.

Joe knows the successes and the lessons from Florida — he can bring that to the national level," Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Power said.