Michigan Republican Party

The Michigan Republican Party is the state affiliate of the national Republican Party in Michigan, sometimes referred to as MIGOP. Ronald Weiser was elected chairman in 2021.

Michigan Republican Party
ChairpersonKristina Karamo
Senate LeaderAric Nesbitt
House LeaderMatt Hall
FoundedJuly 6, 1854 (1854-07-06), in Jackson, Michigan
HeadquartersSecchia-Weiser Republican Center, 520 N. Seymour St., Lansing, Michigan
Student wingMichigan Federation of College Republicans
Youth wingMichigan Young Republicans
Michigan Teen Age Republicans
Women's wingRepublican Women's Federation of Michigan
IdeologyConservatism
Political positionRight-wing[1][2][3]
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
Website
Official website

Ronna Romney McDaniel was the chairwoman of the party, having been elected in 2015 by delegates to the Republican State Convention. McDaniel is now the Republican National Committee Chairwoman.[4] 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.[5]

Whereas the Michigan Republican Party has historically been characterized by moderate conservatism, the party took a hard-right turn after Donald Trump won the presidency in 2016.[6][7][8][9] After the 2020 United States elections, the Michigan Republican Party pushed false claims of fraud and sought to overturn the election results.[10][11][12] 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.[13]

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

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.

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.

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.[14] 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.[4]

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.[10][11][12] 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.[15] 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.[15]

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.[16] 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.[17] 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.[18]

Current elected Republicans in Michigan
President Gerald Ford (1974–1977)

U.S. Senate
  • None

Both of Michigan's U.S. Senate seats have been held by Democrats since 2000. Spencer Abraham was the last Republican to represent Michigan in the U.S. Senate. First elected in 1994, Abraham lost his bid for a second term in 2000 to Democrat Debbie Stabenow who has held the seat since.

U.S. House of Representatives

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
  • 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

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

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

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

Kristina Karamo - Chair

Malinda Pego - Co-Chair

National Committeewoman - Kathy Berden

National Committeeman - Dr. Rob Steele

Rylee Linting- Youth Vice Chair

Ali Hossein - Administrative Vice Chair

Hassan Nehme - Coalitions Vice Chair

Bernadette Smith - Ethnic Vice Chair

Marian Sheridan - Grassroots Vice Chair

Rola Makki - Outreach Vice Chair

2021 District Chairs list

First districtSecond districtThird districtFourth districtFifth district
Jeff LambKurt Van KoeveringKim YobJoan JacksonLutullus Penton
Linda BirgelJack HolmesMandy BolterFlorence "Bobbie" ConnollyPrudy Adam
Beverly BodemPaul LeidigAndrew EmmittKim EmmonsAmy Carl
John HaggardJanice McCranerRichard HouskampMaxine McClellandDavid Krueger
John NiemelaJuanita PiermanEileen McNeilSteve RudoniJeremy Clontz
Mary SearsJoan RunnelsWilliam WomerEric St. OngeChristine Young
Anthony StackpooleBob SpringsteadSharon YentschGerald WallAllen Pool

Chairmen of the Michigan Republican State Committee
Henry P. Baldwin is the only former governor to become party chairman. Bagley and Groesbeck had not been governor yet.
Name Residence Years served
Joseph Warren Detroit 1854–1855
James M. Edmunds Detroit 1855–1861
E. C. Walker Detroit 1861–1862
William Alanson Howard[19] Detroit 1862–1868
Governor John J. Bagley[20] Detroit 1868–1870
Stephen D. Bingham Lansing 1870–1878
George H. Hopkins Detroit 1878
Zachariah Chandler[21] Detroit 1878–1879
James McMillan[22] Detroit 1879–1880
Governor Henry P. Baldwin[23] 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[24] Holland 1900–1910
W. F. Knox Sault Ste. Marie 1910–1912
Governor Alex J. Groesbeck[25] 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[26] Holland 1942–1945
John A. Wagner Battle Creek 1945–1949
Owen Cleary[27] Ypsilanti 1949–1953
John Feikens[28] Detroit 1953–1957
Lawrence Lindemer Stockbridge 1957–1961
George Van Peursem Zeeland 1961–1963
Arthur G. Elliott Jr. Birmingham 1963–1965
Elly M. Peterson[29] Charlotte 1965–1969
William F. McLaughlin Northville 1969–1979
Melvin L. Larson Oxford 1979–1983
Spencer Abraham[30] East Lansing 1983–1991
David J. Doyle Okemos 1991–1995
Susy Heintz (Avery) Clinton Township 1995–1996
Betsy DeVos[31] Grand Rapids 1996–2000
Gerald Hills[32] East Lansing 2000–2003
Betsy DeVos Grand Rapids 2003–2005
Saul Anuzis Lansing 2005–2009
Ronald Weiser[33] Ann Arbor 2009–2011
Bobby Schostak Oakland County 2011–2015
Ronna Romney McDaniel Northville 2015–2017
Ronald Weiser[33] Ann Arbor 2017–2019
Laura Cox Livonia 2019–2021
Ronald Weiser[33] Ann Arbor 2021–2023
Kristina Karamo Detroit 2023–

References
  1. https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/once-the-mainstream-model-michigan-gop-embraces-right-wing-gop-michigan-donald-trump-party-wing-b1807814.html
  2. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/far-right-republican-groups-surge-swing-state-michigan-2023-02-17/
  3. https://www.theoaklandpress.com/2021/02/26/michigan-gop-embraces-right-wing-moving-away-from-its-once-mainstream-model/
  4. "Ronna Romney McDaniel tapped to be new RNC chair". POLITICO. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
  5. "About | Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference". Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
  6. "Once the mainstream model, Michigan GOP embraces right wing". AP NEWS. 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  7. "Michigan GOP embraces right wing, moving away from its once mainstream model". The Oakland Press. 2021-02-26. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  8. Layne, Nathan (2023-02-17). "Insight: Far-right Republican groups surge in swing state Michigan". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  9. "Once the mainstream model, Michigan GOP embraces right wing". The Independent. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  10. "6 reasons that allegations of Michigan election fraud defy common sense". mlive. 2020-11-22. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  11. "'I am certainly not dead!' Living voters contradict Michigan GOP fraud claims". www.bridgemi.com. 2020-12-09. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  12. Boucher, Dave. "McDaniel claims election misconduct in Michigan, elsewhere, but doesn't present proof". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  13. "GOP investigation finds no Michigan vote fraud, deems many claims 'ludicrous' | Bridge Michigan". Bridge Michigan.
  14. "Trump names Michigan's Ronna Romney McDaniel RNC chair". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
  15. Mauger, Craig; LeBlanc, Beth. "Michigan Republicans seek to replace GOP canvasser who certified election". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  16. "Once the mainstream model, Michigan GOP embraces right wing". AP NEWS. 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  17. Hendrickson, Dave Boucher and Clara. "Michigan GOP executive who blamed Trump for election loss resigns leadership post". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  18. "He Kicked Me.' Fight at Michigan GOP Meeting Turns Physical: Report".
  19. 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)
  20. John J. Bagley later served as Governor of Michigan (1873–1877)
  21. 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)
  22. James McMillan was also a U. S. Senator (Class 2) from Michigan (1889–1902)
  23. Henry P. Baldwin had previously served as Governor of Michigan (1869–1873) and United States Senator (Class 1) from Michigan (1879–1881)
  24. Gerrit J. Diekema had also been U. S. Representative for the Michigan's 5th congressional district (1907–1911)
  25. Alex J. Groesbeck was later Michigan Attorney General (1917–1920) and Governor of Michigan (1921–1927)
  26. John R. Dethmers was later Michigan Attorney General (1945–1946)
  27. Owen Cleary was later Michigan Secretary of State (1953–1954)
  28. John Feikens is currently Senior Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (since 1986)
  29. Elly M. Peterson was the first woman to serve as chairman of any official state party.
  30. Spencer Abraham later became U. S. Senator from Michigan (1995—2001) and U. S. Secretary of Energy (2001–2005)
  31. Betsy DeVos is married to 2006 Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos
  32. Gerald Hills is currently the spokesman for Michigan Attorney General candidate Bill Schuette.
  33. 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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