Michigan GOP Elects New Chair Amid Key Midterm Races
Detroit is the destination this Saturday as Michigan Republicans convene to elect a new chair who will guide the party through the crucial 2026 midterm elections. This pivotal election cycle includes significant contests, highlighted by a key U.S. Senate seat. The party is coming off a period marked by discord and challenges, making this election particularly important.
The race for the chairmanship features three candidates vying for the votes of party delegates. The frontrunner is Meshawn Maddock, a prominent MAGA supporter, who has previously held the role of co-chair and is a strong ally of former President Donald Trump. However, Maddock is currently confronting legal issues, facing eight charges related to forgery and conspiracy linked to an alleged false elector scheme from the 2020 election. Despite the charges, Maddock believes they are politically motivated and anticipates they will be dismissed. Recently, Trump endorsed her for the chair position.
Another candidate in the race is State Senator Jim Runestad, who has an extensive political background, having served 11 years in the state legislature after being elected to the House. The third contender is Joseph Cella, who previously served as an ambassador to several Pacific nations during Trump’s administration.
Fifteen Michigan Republicans are implicated in a plot to misrepresent themselves as presidential electors for Trump during the 2020 election, despite Joe Biden’s clear victory in the state. The state’s Democratic Attorney General, Dana Nessel, previously dropped charges against one individual in exchange for their cooperation. Each of the accused individuals has denied any wrongdoing and faces multiple charges related to alleged forgery during a December 2020 meeting, where they reportedly claimed to be the state’s legitimate electors. Their falsified documents were ultimately disregarded, and the validity of Biden’s win is underlined by a 2021 investigation led by a GOP-controlled state Senate.
Maddock and her co-defendants await a ruling from a county district judge regarding whether there is sufficient evidence for the case to move to trial, with the next court hearing set for March 28, shortly after the GOP convention.
The political landscape in Michigan is predicted to be decisive in the upcoming 2026 midterms, as Democrats aim to disrupt Republican dominance in the U.S. House and Senate and counter Trump’s political maneuvers. The recent announcement by Democratic U.S. Senator Gary Peters that he will not seek reelection has created an open seat, stirring interest among potential candidates. In addition, Democrat Elissa Slotkin narrowly bested Republican Mike Rogers for a Senate seat in 2024. Rogers, having lost by less than a percentage point, has announced intentions to run again, with former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg mulling his own candidacy.
Moreover, Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited, prompting a potential change in leadership as many seek to fill her position. The upcoming elections in 2026 will also determine control of the state legislature and critical statewide offices, including attorney general and secretary of state, alongside two seats on the state Supreme Court.
The choice of chair in the Republican party comes during a transitional period characterized by financial difficulties and internal strife, highlighted by a chaotic convention vote. The party saw a rise in grassroots activism in 2023 that brought in Kristiana Karamo, a newcomer who denied the veracity of the 2020 election results. However, under her leadership, the party’s finances deteriorated, leading to her replacement by former congressman and ambassador Pete Hoekstra, who is not seeking reelection for the chair as he is nominated for a new role as ambassador to Canada.
Meanwhile, Michigan Democrats are also holding elections for their party chair on the same day. Former state legislator and congressional hopeful Curtis Hertel Jr. is anticipated to be chosen for the role, following his narrow defeat in the 2024 U.S. House race against Army veteran Tom Barrett.
