Michigan GOP Descends Into Chaos

The Michigan GOP has descended into chaos and infighting following a contested vote to oust a Donald Trump-supporting election denier as its chair.

District 2 State Committeewoman Bree Moeggenberg said more than 88 percent of members present at the meeting on Saturday voted to remove Kristina Karamo from the position.

According to The Associated Press, about 45 people were present at the meeting and Karamo did not attend. The former chairwoman has made it clear she would not recognize the vote as it was "not official."

"With over 88 percent of the members that were present and voting, we have taken the first step to engage and protect the various voices and liberties of all Republicans," Moeggenberg said in a Saturday Facebook post.

"We have voted to remove Kristina Karamo as the chair of the Michigan Republican Party. It is now time to collaborate and grow forward. The new chair in capacity, Malinda Pego, formerly the co-chair, will lead our path to unity."

Moeggenberg added there was only "one reason" why she believed Karamo needed to be removed from her position.

"If there were only one that you will be removed, it is this... You are not an effective leader that is capable of building a coalition of Republicans to grow our voter base and win," Moeggenberg told Newsweek regarding the vote to oust Karamo.

"There is beauty in Kristina's failure. Republicans of many factions that were otherwise divided have teamed up to rebuild the trust, establish and grow our donor and voter base so that we achieve victory in November. that is the beauty in her failure."

Moeggenberg further claimed the removal was legitimate as General Counsel Dan Hartman, who was credentialed and, although in opposition, was present as a participating voting member.

In a video uploaded to online video platform Rumble, the Michigan Republican Party described the vote as "fraudulent" and Hartman claimed the vote had not been authorized and said those who orchestrated it were "usurpers."

According to the bylaws of the Michigan Republican State Committee, seen by Newsweek, any officer may be removed with 75 percent of the committee present.

The bylaws state that the vote must be made in person by those members and not by proxy.

To bring the question before the committee "as to the removal of an officer, a petition requesting that such a vote be taken, bearing the signatures of at least 50 percent of the entire committee," must be submitted.

The bylaws also stated no proxies are allowed and that the petition should be filed with the chair or their secretary if the petition concerns the chair's position.

But Karamo, who was endorsed by Trump in her unsuccessful run for Michigan secretary of state in 2022, said in a Saturday X, formerly Twitter, post that she does not recognize the results that happened at the meeting.

She wrote: "37 percent of the MIGOP State Committee voting at an illegitimate meeting did not remove the Chair of the Michigan Republican Party (me) today. The meeting was not an official meeting of the State Committee.

"The uniparty controlled media reporting the contrary means nothing. The January 13th Special Meeting will proceed as planned, and I hope to see all our members. Nothing will stop better political representation."

"An organized shadow party was held with the co-chair and a variety of people, including people who represented themselves to be the secretary of the party," the Michigan Republican Party told Newsweek.

"They had misappropriated credentials and used the logos and the name to run it as if it was official party business. They then tipped off the media to have the appearance of legitimacy, to further divide and undermine Michigan republican delegates' right to be represented at the state committee.

"Chair Karamo was elected by a 2100 convention of delegates, who elected her over other candidates, to be the chair. The removal attempt orchestrated by 40 individuals is not contemplated by the bylaws. After having the appropriate signatures—to call the question—it contemplates a 75 percent vote of such members, not by proxy, which must be made in person.

"They interpreted a 'super majority' to overturn the delegates' choice from the convention of delegates.

"General Counsel Dan Hartman was present. He told them that what they were doing was illegal."

Newsweek found that the Michigan Republican Party Facebook page denied Karamo has been removed from her position.

"The allegations that Chairwoman Kristina Karamo has been removed are categorically false," the Saturday Facebook post said.

The post claimed an anti-grassroots faction had been part of a "sinister plot to further fracture the Michigan Republican Party."

Newsweek has contacted Karamo for comment via email.

In the past, Karamo has supported baseless claims that the 2020 election was riddled with election fraud which resulted in President Joe Biden winning the race to the White House.

She also had connections to the QAnon conspiracy theory which spouts unfounded claims that Trump will somehow expose an international cabal of satanic, cannibalistic pedophiles who operate a child sex-trafficking ring.

When asked why she was set to attend an event organized by QAnon followers in Las Vegas in 2021, Karamo told Newsweek: "In America, people are free to believe whatever they want. My concern is to speak to all Americans about the importance of protecting the security of our elections.

"Drawing upon Michigan, the current secretary of state has recently submitted rules that not only weaken our elections, but also disenfranchise low- and middle-income people who want to run for office. I am happy to speak to all Americans regarding the travesty occurring in the state of Michigan."

Update 1/8/24, 2:42 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Bree Moeggenberg and the Michigan Republican Party.