In late 2022 and early 2023, the leadership of the Ottawa County Republican party (GOP) was greatly transformed. In August 2022, numerous Constitutional conservatives, who had never before engaged in politics, ran to be precinct delegates. So many were elected that they effectively voted out existing party leadership in December 2022. Next, they elected fellow precinct delegates to represent their interests at the state convention. They made a conscious decision to vote for party leaders they believed would fight for election integrity and hold elected officials accountable.
Within the major American political parties, the voters elect precinct delegates, who elect party leadership, who elect candidates that appear on the ballot. While the system is structured from the ground upwards, to be led by the people, over time the power dynamic flipped. The precinct delegate election in 2022 and the subsequent moves by the newcomers to reestablish proper party hierarchy was the beginning of a still ongoing power struggle. Many long-time GOP supporters did not comprehend the full magnitude of what happened, or why. In Ottawa County, the established party leadership did not just quietly walk away. Instead, they retaliated with a lawsuit which drained the bank account of the county party and diverted their focus for several weeks.
Similar scenarios played out in counties all over the state. In Kalamazoo, where the GOP establishment still remained in power, the county chair attempted to dismiss 17 Republican delegates by sending them a letter telling them their service was no longer required. The establishment used procedural rules and lawfare in an attempt to retain their control, but newly elected precinct delegates all over the state stood strong.
Before the huge influx of new precinct delegates, in April 2022, constitutional minded precinct delegates were gaining strength within the party. With Trump’s endorsement, the precinct delegates elected Kristina Karamo and Matt DePerno as the Republican candidates for Secretary of State and Attorney General at the state convention on April 23, 2022. The establishment candidate for governor, DeVos-endorsed Tudor Dixon, won the August 2022 primary to be the Republican candidate for governor. In his book on Michigan’s corruption, chapter 56 (p. 196), Bob Cushman explained how Betsy DeVos had made a deal to support DePerno and Karamo in exchange for President Trump’s endorsement of Dixon. Although Dixon received Trump’s endorsement, big donor support for Deperno and Karamo never materialized and they had to rely on small donations from common citizens to fund their campaigns. The lack of funding coupled with likely election interference led to defeat in the November 2022 election for these three candidates along with many others on Republican tickets, despite renewed interest in the party.
Although Republicans lost numerous races across the state, hundreds of patriotic American citizens were elected as precinct delegates. In February 2023, these newly elected precinct delegates elected Kristina Karamo as the new chair of the Michigan Republican Party. Her election again sent the message that big money donors were no longer in control of the Michigan Republican party.
Just like at the county level, establishment leaders did not quietly cede control. They made the initial transition difficult by holding onto information like party email lists, donor lists, and bank account records, and just like at the county level, the establishment took actions that worked to drain the party finances for the incoming leaders.
Nearly a year later, on January 6, 2024, the outgoing establishment leaders attempted a coup of the Michigan GOP which has not yet been resolved. 40 out of 107 members of the state committee leadership claim to have voted Karamo out of her position as GOP chair, but the following week, 59 out of 107 members reaffirmed Karamo as chair, and 74 voted to remove six of the orchestrators of the coup from party leadership for a period of five years. Additionally, the Karamo team has sent cease and desist letters to several individuals involved in the coup.
The establishment GOP made the transition difficult for Kristina Karamo and her team. Her administration has been framed as incompetent and they have been the victims of false accusations and character attacks. Big money lost control of the party at the state level and it appears they are now doing everything within their means to take it back.
Whatever ends up happening, it is important to remember the real power is with the people. It is the voters that elect precinct delegates who in turn elect those who guide the Republican party.