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LANSING, Michigan (AP) – michigan republican plan to discuss State GOP Chairwoman Christina Karamo was ousted during a meeting Saturday, as many party leaders called for her resignation after a tumultuous year at the helm. Debt and infighting,
Karamo has made it clear that she will not recognize the vote if Saturday is removed, claiming that the meeting is not official and was organized illegally. The emerging situation could set the stage for a court battle to determine control of the highest office within the Michigan GOP.
The internal dispute comes as Michigan Republicans look to bounce back from a 2022 midterm loss they suffered historical loss, The party is aiming to counterattack this year open the us senate The seat will also help the Republican presidential candidate win battleground states.
Michigan is one of several swing states where the parties, overtaken by far-right leadership, have struggled to overcome infighting and money issues. Similar situations have arisen Georgia and Arizona, which presents a significant implication in the 2024 presidential election, where those states are set to play a significant role.
Karamo, a former community college instructor, rose through Michigan’s Republican ranks election conspiracies After the 2020 presidential election. She ultimately received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump to run for Secretary of State in 2022. Defeat by 14 percentage points As a result she is still refusing to accept it.
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in February, Karamo was selected by grassroots activists along with his co-chairman, Malinda Pego, to lead the state party during the 2024 elections. Less than a year later, Pego has signed a petition calling for a vote on Karamo’s removal.
Eight of the state party’s 13 Congress district presidents asked Karamo to resign last week, citing financial instability arising from inadequate fundraising and asking Karamo to resign to “end the chaos in our party.”
Karamo has refused to resign and promised not to quit if he was thrown out at the meeting, calling the meeting “illegal” in a recent podcast posted on the Michigan GOP website. It is unclear whether enough party members will attend the Saturday afternoon meeting to make it official.
Karamo did not respond to multiple requests for comment by The Associated Press.
Party members formally began an effort to remove Karamo in early December, and obtained the signatures of 39 state committee members on a petition calling for a special meeting to consider the change.
To oust Karamo, opponents will have to submit signatures of at least half of the state party’s approximately 100 committee members on Saturday. Approval of 75% of the state committee members present would then be required, although there is a proposed amendment to reduce the threshold to 60%.
Whether Karamo survives the vote or not, the state party will need to make significant progress quickly if it hopes to influence the 2024 election.
According to Karamo, the party was nearly $500,000 in debt by October, as well as a $110,000 debt owed to actor Jim Caviezel for giving a speech. Karamo and the party are suing the trust that owns their headquarters in hopes of selling the building to pay off the debt.
The turmoil comes less than two months before the state party will host a convention on March 2 to divvy up 39 of the state’s 55 Republican presidential delegates. The other 16 delegates will be allocated based on the results of the February 27 Republican primary.
Republicans are trying to win a Senate seat in the state in November, a feat they have not accomplished since 1994. The party is also trying to win a narrow majority in the Michigan House in 2022 after Democrats gain control of the state House and Senate. Retaining the post of Governor for the first time in 40 years.
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