Judge rules removal of Kristina Karamo as Michigan GOP chair valid, Trump-backed replacement appointed

A judge announced in Tuesday February 27 that Kristina Karamo was properly removed as the chair of the Michigan Republican Party. This decision came after months of internal fighting over the financial health of the party in the battleground state. Members of the state party organized a vote on Jan. 6 to oust her as leader, and the result was deemed valid by Kent County Judge Joseph Rossi. Rossi declared, “Any actions of Ms. Karamo since Jan. 6, 2024, purporting to be taken on behalf of the Michigan Republican state committee are void and have no effect.” The national Republican Party also supported the decision, declaring that Karamo was properly removed and that former U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra was the new chair.

Support from Former President Donald Trump

Former President Donald Trump backed Hoekstra, urging the party to unite and move forward. “It is time to unite and move forward with the business delivering the state of Michigan for our party’s presumptive nominee, Donald J. Trump,” Hoekstra said after the judge granted an injunction sought by Karamo’s critics.

Legal Battle and Opposition

Karamo, however, expressed her dissatisfaction with the decision, calling it “grossly unfair.” She had been refusing to accept efforts to remove her and had planned to hold a convention to select presidential delegates. A group of Republicans sued her, seeking a definitive ruling about whether she had been lawfully removed. The plaintiffs included Karamo’s former co-chair, Malinda Pego, and other former allies. Karamo's opponents called for her resignation following a year plagued by debt and infighting.

Percentage of Votes and Meeting Attendance

Nearly 89 percent of those present on Jan. 6 voted to oust Karamo, according to Bree Moeggenberg, a party member in attendance. Although roughly 110 precinct delegates had the power to remove the chair, only 45 people, not including proxies, had attended the meeting. Despite this, Judge Rossi stated that there were sufficient votes to support the removal.

Impact on the Presidential Contest

The civil war within the state party has had little impact on the presidential contest so far, with Trump maintaining his front-runner status over Nikki Haley.