Leaders within the Michigan Republican Party are at odds, with one faction calling the state party leader “undisputed,” while the other group voted to oust her a week ago ahead of an important Feb. 27 primary.
On Jan. 6, 40 members of the state committee voted to remove Kristina Karamo as chairwoman for stoking the flames of the state’s broken party, the Daily Beast reported. Karamo, who was elected in February 2023, pushed back on the decision, saying the vote violated party bylaws.
Her rejection prompted another meeting on Saturday when a majority of the party voted 59-1 to reinstate Karamo and voted to ban her former Co-Chairwoman Malinda Pego for five years after acting as chairwoman, Bridge Michigan reported.
“This is a happy day of remembrance because it represents a renewed unification of spirit and purpose within the Michigan Republican Party,” Karamo said in a statement following Saturday’s vote.
Those who voted the week prior to remove Karamo argued against her return, saying she was not in charge but that Pego was, as acting chairwoman. In a letter obtained by the Daily Beast, members defended their staunch support for Pego until a new chairperson can be decided upon later this month.
“We, the undersigned District Chairs and Vice Chairs hereby recognize Co-Chair Malinda Pego as Acting Chair of the Michigan Republican Party as per the official results of the state committee meeting that occurred on January 6th, 2024,” the party wrote.
Karamo announced in a video posted to the party’s X account, alongside State Committee Member Braden Giacobazzi, that the confusion had been settled.
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Despite this, Michigan’s GOP remains in disarray, with both factions, one in support of Pego and the other in defense of Karamo, issuing conflicting leadership statements. However, Pego confirmed a Jan. 20 election in which a new chairperson will be voted in and that all state committee members and county chairpeople are aware of the impending election.
The party’s internal division comes on the heels of the Feb. 27 primary, in which Michigan will be a critical battleground state for the presidential elections.