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Michigan Republican Party

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The Michigan Republican Party is the state affiliate of the national Republican Party in Michigan, United States, sometimes referred to as MIGOP.

Michigan Republican Party
ChairpersonPete Hoekstra[1]
Senate LeaderAric Nesbitt
House LeaderMatt Hall
FoundedJuly 6, 1854; 170 years ago (1854-07-06), in Jackson, Michigan
HeadquartersLansing, Michigan
Student wingMichigan Federation of College Republicans
Youth wingMichigan Young Republicans
Michigan Teen Age Republicans
Women's wingRepublican Women's Federation of Michigan
IdeologyConservatism
National affiliationRepublican Party
Colors  Red
Michigan House of Representatives
54 / 110
Michigan Senate
18 / 38
Statewide Executive Offices
0 / 4
U.S. House of Representatives
6 / 13
U.S. Senate
0 / 2
Election symbol
Website
Official website

Ronna Romney McDaniel was the chairwoman of the party, having been elected in 2015 by delegates to the Republican State Convention, in 2017, McDaniel became Republican National Committee Chairwoman, serving until 2024.[2] The Michigan Republican Party hosts a biennial political conference at the Mackinac Island Grand Hotel called the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference. The event features notable national Republicans, senators, governors, and presidential candidates.[3]

Even though the Michigan Republican Party has historically been characterized by conservatism, the party took a hard-right turn after Donald Trump won the presidency in 2016.[4][5][6][7] After the 2020 United States elections, the Michigan Republican Party pushed false claims of fraud and sought to overturn the election results.[8][9][10] A months-long Republican investigation found there was no evidence of widespread fraud and recommended for the attorney general to investigate some who had made such allegations for personal gain.[11]

Starting in 2023 and as a result of the 2022 elections, the party has no substantial political power in the state. The Republican Party has minorities in both chambers of the state legislature and its U.S. House delegation, as well as neither of the state's U.S. Senate seats, and no statewide executive offices.

History

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Republicans have been elected to the governorship of Michigan in 27 of 48 gubernatorial elections. The first was Kingsley S. Bingham in 1855, and the most recent is Rick Snyder, who was elected in 2010, and then re-elected in 2014.[citation needed]

After President Richard Nixon resigned due to the Watergate scandal, Vice President Gerald Ford became the 38th President of the United States. Ford grew up in Grand Rapids and served as a U.S. Representative from Michigan from 1949 to 1973.[citation needed]

Following the 2016 election and Reince Priebus' selection to be White House Chief of Staff, Michigan Republican Party Chairman Ronna Romney McDaniel became Chairwoman of the Republican National Committee. Then-President-elect Trump recommended McDaniel in December 2016 to replace Priebus.[12] She was officially elected as RNC chair on January 19, 2017, becoming the second woman to hold the post in RNC history, after Mary Louise Smith.[2]

After Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election in Michigan and Donald Trump refused to concede, the Michigan Republican Party pushed false claims of fraud and sought to overturn the election results.[8][9][10] In January 2021, the Michigan Republican Party sought to replace GOP member Aaron Van Langevelde on the Michigan Board of Canvassers; he had previously voted to certify the Michigan election results in favor of Biden.[13] One of the candidates that the Michigan Republican Party sought to nominate to that position was Linda Lee Tarver, who had been involved in efforts to overturn the election results.[13]

According to the Associated Press, since Trump's defeat in the 2020 presidential election and Michigan swinging back to the Democrats, the Michigan GOP have taken a hard right-wing turn. The shift has altered the once moderate character of the state GOP and has instead embraced more right-wing elements.[14] In 2021, the executive director of the Michigan GOP resigned after he declined to say that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump; delegates in the Michigan GOP had called for him to be fired for his remarks.[15] Increasing internal divisions within the Michigan Republican Party led to a violent physical brawl at a state committee meeting in 2023, during which one party activist allegedly kicked a committee member in the groin and broke his rib.[16]

2024 Leadership schism

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See also: 2024 Michigan Republican presidential nominating contests

On January 6, 2024, a group of Michigan Republican Party state committee members voted 40–5 to remove Kristina Karamo, using proxies set by District Chairs without the knowledge of the proxied members to attain quorum. The group of state committee members acknowledged Malinda Pego, who served as co-chair under Karamo, as Acting Chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party until a vote for an official replacement is held. Meanwhile, Kristina Karamo repeatedly stated that she didn't recognize the vote and was therefore still chairwoman, as she claimed that the meeting was setup against the bylaws of the Michigan GOP.[17][18][19] Malinda Pego's faction responded with a 31-paged document arguing how the meeting to oust Karamo followed the state party's bylaws, therefore making the results legitimate and legal.[20]

On January 13, 2024, another group of Michigan Republican Party state committee members voted to reinstate Kristina Karamo as chair, as well as the removal of several nonsupporting party officials—including Malinda Pego—from the state party,[21] despite Karamo previously claiming that Pego had resigned.[19] That same day, 9 of 13 Michigan GOP Congressional district chairs, as well as 3 of 6 Michigan GOP vice chairs, released a statement acknowledging the ousting of Kristina Karamo the week prior.[22]

According to Malinda Pego, a state committee meeting to vote for a new chair was held on January 20, 2024.[23] Pete Hoekstra was elected as chairman during the vote. However, Karamo has insisted that she is still the legitimate chairperson.[24] The Karamo faction of the party controlled the state party's finances and infrastructure including the official MIGOP web site.[25][26] The Hoekstra faction of the MIGOP set up its own infrastructure and official website.[27]

The RNC determined that Karamo was properly removed as MIGOP chair, but hadn't decided at that time if Hoekstra was the new chair.[28] Both Hoekstra and Karamo were invited to the Republican Party winter meeting in Las Vegas on January 30 but neither were credentialed as party chair.[29] The two rivals received guest credentials but were not given voting rights.[30] Former president Donald Trump sided with Hoekstra.[31] The RNC on February 14 recognized Hoekstra as the MIGOP chair.[32] The officially recognized Michigan Republican Party leadership uses a new website, as the prior website was under Karamo's control.[33] Circuit Court Judge Joseph Rossi ruled that Karamo was properly removed as MIGOP chair.[34] Karamo has filed an appeal to the Michigan Court of Appeals.[35]

The divisions persisted at the state party's political convention held August 24, 2024 in Flint to choose nominees for the state supreme court, university presidents and the state board of education. Karamo was ejected from the convention.[36]

Current elected Republicans in Michigan

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President Gerald Ford (1974–1977)

Members of Congress

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U.S. Senate

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  • None

Both of Michigan's U.S. Senate seats have been held by Democrats since 2001. Spencer Abraham was the last Republican to represent Michigan in the U.S. Senate. First elected in 1994, Abraham lost re-election in 2000 to Democrat Debbie Stabenow who has held the seat since.

U.S. House of Representatives

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Out of the 13 seats Michigan is apportioned in the U.S. House of Representatives, 6 are held by Republicans:

District Member Photo
1st Jack Bergman
 
2nd John Moolenaar
 
4th Bill Huizenga
 
5th Tim Walberg
 
9th Lisa McClain
 
10th John James
 

Statewide

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  • None

Michigan has not elected any GOP candidates to statewide office since 2014, when Rick Snyder, Brian Calley, Bill Schuette, and Ruth Johnson were re-elected as governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and secretary of state, respectively. In 2018, term limits prevented all four politicians from seeking third terms. Schuette ran as the Republican nominee in the 2018 gubernatorial election with Lisa Posthumus Lyons as his running mate and was subsequently defeated by Democratic challenger Gretchen Whitmer and running mate Garlin Gilchrist while Tom Leonard and Mary Treder Lang ran as the Republican nominees for Attorney General and Secretary of State and were subsequently defeated by Democratic challengers Dana Nessel and Jocelyn Benson.

Michigan Legislature

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United States cabinet members from Michigan who served under a Republican president

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The following are in order of presidential succession.

 
Charles Wilson, nicknamed "Engine Charlie", was formerly CEO of GM.
Name Cabinet position Years served President(s) served under
Charles Erwin Wilson Secretary of Defense 1953–1957 Dwight D. Eisenhower
Zachariah Chandler Secretary of the Interior 1875–1877 Ulysses S. Grant
Roy D. Chapin Secretary of Commerce 1932–1933 Herbert Hoover
Frederick H. Mueller Secretary of Commerce 1959–1961 Dwight D. Eisenhower
George W. Romney Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 1969–1973 Richard Nixon
David Stockman Director of Office of Management and Budget 1981–1985 Ronald Reagan
Spencer Abraham Secretary of Energy 2001–2005 George W. Bush
Betsy DeVos Secretary of Education 2017–2021 Donald Trump
Russell A. Alger Secretary of War (obsolete) 1897–1899 William McKinley
Truman Handy Newberry Secretary of the Navy (obsolete) 1908–1909 Theodore Roosevelt
Edwin Denby Secretary of the Navy (obsolete) 1921–1924 Warren G. Harding
Calvin Coolidge
Arthur Summerfield Postmaster General (obsolete) 1953–1961 Dwight D. Eisenhower
Ben Carson Secretary of Housing & Urban Development 2017–2021 Donald Trump

Michigan Republican State Committee

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The Michigan Republican State Committee is the state central committee of the Michigan Republican Party. It is composed of seven members from each of Michigan's Congressional district Republican committees, the Chairman, Co-Chairman, the various Vice Chairmen of the Party, and the Secretary, Treasurer and General and Financial Counsels. It selects Michigan's two representatives to the Republican National Committee. Additionally, the Chairperson of each County Republican Party organization is a non-voting ex officio member of the State Committee.

Current leadership

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Position Name
Chair Pete Hoekstra
Co-Chair Malinda Pego
National Committeewoman Hima Kolanagireddy
National Committeeman Dr. Rob Steele
Administrative Vice-Chair Ali Hossein
Ethnic Vice-Chair Bernadette Smith
Coalitions Vice-Chair Hassan Nehme
Grassroots Vice-Chair Marian Sheridan
Outreach Vice-Chair Rola Makki
Youth Vice Chair Rylee Linting

2021 District Chairs list

First district Second district Third district Fourth district Fifth district
Jeff Lamb Kurt Van Koevering Kim Yob Joan Jackson Lutullus Penton
Linda Birgel Jack Holmes Mandy Bolter Florence "Bobbie" Connolly Prudy Adam
Beverly Bodem Paul Leidig Andrew Emmitt Kim Emmons Amy Carl
John Haggard Janice McCraner Richard Houskamp Maxine McClelland David Krueger
John Niemela Juanita Pierman Eileen McNeil Steve Rudoni Jeremy Clontz
Mary Sears Joan Runnels William Womer Eric St. Onge Christine Young
Anthony Stackpoole Bob Springstead Sharon Yentsch Gerald Wall Allen Pool

Chairmen of the Michigan Republican State Committee

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Henry P. Baldwin is the only former governor to become party chairman; Bagley and Groesbeck had not yet been governor.
Name Residence Years served
Joseph Warren Detroit 1854–1855
James M. Edmunds Detroit 1855–1861
E. C. Walker Detroit 1861–1862
William Alanson Howard[37] Detroit 1862–1868
Governor John J. Bagley[38] Detroit 1868–1870
Stephen D. Bingham Lansing 1870–1878
George H. Hopkins Detroit 1878
Zachariah Chandler[39] Detroit 1878–1879
James McMillan[40] Detroit 1879–1880
Governor Henry P. Baldwin[41] Detroit 1880–1882
Edward S. Lacey Charlotte 1882–1884
Philip T. Van Zile Charlotte 1884–1886
James McMillan Detroit 1886–1888
George H. Hopkins Detroit 1888–1890
James McMillan Detroit 1890–1896
Dexter M. Ferry Detroit 1896–1898
Arthur Marsh Allegan 1898–1900
Gerrit J. Diekema[42] Holland 1900–1910
Frank Knox Sault Ste. Marie 1910–1912
Governor Alex J. Groesbeck[43] Detroit 1912–1914
Gilman M. Dame Northport 1914–1916
John D. Mangum Marquette 1916–1918
Burt D. Cady Port Huron 1919–1925
Kennedy L. Potter Jackson 1925–1927
Gerrit J. Diekema Holland 1927–1929
Howard C. Lawrence Ionia and Saginaw 1929–1937
James Francis Thomson Jackson 1937–1940
Leslie B. Butler Lansing 1940–1942
John R. Dethmers[44] Holland 1942–1945
John A. Wagner Battle Creek 1945–1949
Owen Cleary[45] Ypsilanti 1949–1953
John Feikens[46] Detroit 1953–1957
Lawrence Lindemer Stockbridge 1957–1961
George Van Peursem Zeeland 1961–1963
Arthur G. Elliott Jr. Birmingham 1963–1965
Elly M. Peterson[47] Charlotte 1965–1969
William F. McLaughlin Northville 1969–1979
Melvin L. Larson Oxford 1979–1983
Spencer Abraham[48] East Lansing 1983–1991
David J. Doyle Okemos 1991–1995
Susy Heintz (Avery) Clinton Township 1995–1996
Betsy DeVos[49] Grand Rapids 1996–2000
Gerald Hills[50] East Lansing 2000–2003
Betsy DeVos Grand Rapids 2003–2005
Saul Anuzis Lansing 2005–2009
Ronald Weiser[51] Ann Arbor 2009–2011
Bobby Schostak Oakland County 2011–2015
Ronna Romney McDaniel Northville 2015–2017
Ronald Weiser[51] Ann Arbor 2017–2019
Laura Cox Livonia 2019–2021
Ronald Weiser[51] Ann Arbor 2021–2023
Kristina Karamo Detroit 2023–2024
Malinda Pego (acting) Muskegon 2024
Pete Hoekstra Holland 2024–present

References

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  1. ^ "RNC: Pete Hoekstra is chair of Michigan Republicans, not Kristina Karamo | Bridge Michigan". February 13, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Nelson, Louis (January 19, 2017). "Ronna Romney McDaniel tapped to be new RNC chair". Politico. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  3. ^ "About | Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference". Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  4. ^ "Once the mainstream model, Michigan GOP embraces right wing". AP News. April 20, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  5. ^ "Michigan GOP embraces right wing, moving away from its once mainstream model". The Oakland Press. February 26, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  6. ^ Layne, Nathan (February 17, 2023). "Insight: Far-right Republican groups surge in swing state Michigan". Reuters. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  7. ^ "Once the mainstream model, Michigan GOP embraces right wing". The Independent. February 26, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Mack, Julie (November 22, 2020). "6 reasons that allegations of Michigan election fraud defy common sense". mlive. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Oosting, Jonathan (December 9, 2020). "'I am certainly not dead!' Living voters contradict Michigan GOP fraud claims". bridgemi.com. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  10. ^ a b Boucher, Dave. "McDaniel claims election misconduct in Michigan, elsewhere, but doesn't present proof". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  11. ^ Oosting, Jonathan (June 23, 2021). "GOP investigation finds no Michigan vote fraud, deems many claims 'ludicrous' | Bridge Michigan". Bridge Michigan. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  12. ^ Spangler, Todd (December 14, 2016). "Trump names Michigan's Ronna Romney McDaniel RNC chair". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Mauger, Craig; LeBlanc, Beth. "Michigan Republicans seek to replace GOP canvasser who certified election". The Detroit News. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  14. ^ Beaumont, Thomas and Eggert, David (April 20, 2021). "Once the mainstream model, Michigan GOP embraces right wing". AP News. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  15. ^ Boucher, Dave and Hendrickson, Clara (July 14, 2021). "Michigan GOP executive who blamed Trump for election loss resigns leadership post". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  16. ^ Wade, Peter (July 9, 2023). "'He Kicked Me in My Balls.' Fight at Michigan GOP Meeting Turns Physical: Report". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  17. ^ Cappelletti, Joey and Williams, Corey (January 6, 2024). "Michigan Republicans vote to remove election denier, chair Karamo, who promises not to accept result". AP News. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  18. ^ Davidson, Kyle (January 10, 2024). "Karamo's MIGOP releases report on potential bylaw violations at meeting removing her as chair". Michigan Advance. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  19. ^ a b Davis, Kent (January 8, 2024). "Leadership dispute continues in Michigan GOP after weekend vote". ABC12 WJRT-TV. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  20. ^ "J6 Bylaw Presentation.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  21. ^ Mauger, Craig (January 13, 2024). "Separate Michigan GOP group votes to keep Kristina Karamo as chairwoman". The Detroit News. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  22. ^ "MIGOP Chairs Support Malinda Pego". us21.campaign-archive.com. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  23. ^ "MIGOP Official Statement on today's gathering". us21.campaign-archive.com. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  24. ^ LeBlanc, Beth (January 20, 2024). "Former Ambassador Pete Hoekstra selected to lead Michigan GOP". The Detroit News. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  25. ^ "Who is Pete Hoekstra? Meet the Trump ambassador in fight for Michigan GOP | Bridge Michigan". February 13, 2024.
  26. ^ "About".
  27. ^ "Michigan Republican Party". Michigan Republican Party.
  28. ^ "RNC: Kristina Karamo 'properly removed' as Michigan GOP chair; review ongoing | Bridge Michigan". February 13, 2024.
  29. ^ "Michigan chair Karamo 'properly removed,' national GOP says".
  30. ^ Vigdor, Neil (February 2024). "Michigan Had No Seat at R.N.C. Meeting, but 2 People Showed up Anyway". The New York Times.
  31. ^ "Trump wades into Michigan GOP Chair struggles". January 27, 2024.
  32. ^ "RNC: Pete Hoekstra is chair of Michigan Republicans, not Kristina Karamo | Bridge Michigan". February 13, 2024.
  33. ^ https://www.aol.com/news/michigan-gop-online-wars-could-164942073.html [bare URL]
  34. ^ "2024 Michigan elections: campaign, polls, dates, voter information | Bridge Michigan". www.bridgemi.com. July 2, 2024. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  35. ^ Meyers, Elle (June 25, 2024). "Kristina Karamo continues the fight for Michigan GOP leadership - CBS Detroit". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  36. ^ "Karamo ejected from convention as divisions persist in Michigan Republican Party".
  37. ^ William Alanson Howard later became U. S. Representative for the Michigan's 1st congressional district (1855–59), (1860–61) and Governor of Dakota Territory (1878–1880)
  38. ^ John J. Bagley later served as Governor of Michigan (1873–1877)
  39. ^ Zachariah Chandler had previously been Mayor of Detroit (1851–1852), U. S. Senator (Class 1) from Michigan (1857–1875, 1879) U. S. Secretary of the Interior (1875–77) and simultaneously Chairman of the Republican National Committee (1876–79)
  40. ^ James McMillan was also a U. S. Senator (Class 2) from Michigan (1889–1902)
  41. ^ Henry P. Baldwin had previously served as Governor of Michigan (1869–1873) and United States Senator (Class 1) from Michigan (1879–1881)
  42. ^ Gerrit J. Diekema had also been U. S. Representative for the Michigan's 5th congressional district (1907–1911)
  43. ^ Alex J. Groesbeck was later Michigan Attorney General (1917–1920) and Governor of Michigan (1921–1927)
  44. ^ John R. Dethmers was later Michigan Attorney General (1945–1946)
  45. ^ Owen Cleary was later Michigan Secretary of State (1953–1954)
  46. ^ John Feikens is currently Senior Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (since 1986)
  47. ^ Elly M. Peterson was the first woman to serve as chairman of any official state party.
  48. ^ Spencer Abraham later became U. S. Senator from Michigan (1995–2001) and U. S. Secretary of Energy (2001–2005)
  49. ^ Betsy DeVos is married to 2006 Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos
  50. ^ Gerald Hills is currently the spokesman for Michigan Attorney General candidate Bill Schuette.
  51. ^ a b c Ronald Weiser is a former United States Ambassador to Slovakia, appointed by George W. Bush in November 2001 and served until December 2004.
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