Michigan GOP in Free Fall
A state committee meeting descended into chaos as the local police were called this month, leading to a headline of "He Kicked Me in My Balls" being dispatched everywhere.
Violence was the first order of business for Republicans during a state committee meeting earlier this month at the Doherty Hotel in Clare, Michigan. The issue of the party’s impending direction took center stage as committee members began to physically fight over the leadership abilities of their new chairperson, Kristina Karamo.
Some members arriving at the venue were told the meeting was limited only to members of the state committee, and that it would be taking place behind a locked door. James Chapman, a Republican from Wayne County, said he had travelled all the way to Clare for the meeting, but was forced to listen to the proceedings through a locked door.
In an exclusive interview with The Detroit News, Chapman said that he proceeded to say the Pledge of Allegiance with others in the lobby outside the meeting with others who were not allowed into the main event, and then he wiggled the knob of one door leading to the meeting room.
According to Mark DeYoung, the Clare County Republican Party Chairman, Mr. Chapman went to a small window by the door and gave Mr. DeYoung the middle finger. Despite the aggressive gesture, DeYoung proceeded to open the door and claims Chapman “kicked me in my balls as soon as [he] opened the door.” DeYoung also claimed that Chapman ran at him and slammed him into a chair.
Mr. DeYoung also claims he was seen at the emergency room following the brawl, and was treated for a broken rib, although none of the injuries have been confirmed. Mr. Chapman has alleged that DeYoung instigated the fight by swinging at him and threatening: “I’ll kick your ass,” but Mr. DeYoung denies that any of that happened.
Mr. Chapman stated that he removed his glasses, and “took Mr. DeYoung by the legs and knocked him down bragging, “When you see me taking my glasses off, I’m ready to rock.” Multiple police officers were called to the scene following the ruckus, and Mr. DeYoung has confirmed that he intends to press charges against Mr. Chapman, who has already been suspended from his role within the party pending an investigation.
This is hardly the first time Republicans in Michigan have resorted to violence. In June of this year, members went to war with each other for control of the party statewide. According to an article published in The Washington Post:
“At least four county parties in Michigan have been at open war with themselves, with members suing one another or putting forward competing slates that claim to be in charge. The night before an April state party meeting, two GOP officials got into a physical altercation in a hotel bar over an attempt to expel members. The state party’s new chairwoman, Kristina Karamo, has struggled to raise money and abandoned the party’s longtime headquarters.”
Surprising to perhaps no one is that the ongoing tension and physical altercations all seem go back to Donald Trump. In February of last year, Republicans ultimately refused to accept the former president’s choice for state party chair, and chose someone even more extreme politically. The upset was likely due to the results of the Midterm elections in Michigan, where many Trump candidates were resoundingly defeated.
Newly elected Republican Party Chair Kristina Karamo, who refused to concede her 14-point loss for secretary of state in 2022, beat out former candidate for attorney general Matt DePerno, who had been endorsed by Trump. The boisterous 11-hour convention to elect a new state leader in February, featured a chaotic standoff over voting procedures, and the 10 candidates — who all ran under a pro-Trump banner — showed no interest in pivoting their messages to appeal more to the political center.
Many delegates at that February election meeting said they discounted or even resented Trump’s involvement in the race, particularly due to the resounding failure of Trump-backed candidates to secure their seats. The Republican Party had previously held a stronghold over the state until 2022. Ms. Karamo, who lost her bid for Michigan Secretary of State in November, lost by a whopping 14 percentage points to her Democrat rival.
The Democratic Party now also controls both chambers of the Michigan State Legislature, the Attorney General’s Office, the Office of Secretary of State and the Governor's Office. “We love Donald Trump, but he don’t live here,” said Mark Forton, another candidate for chair who ultimately endorsed Karamo.
This extreme example of discord in Michigan also represents the growing divisions within the Republican Party in battleground states like Arizona and Georgia. Although Trump currently dominates Republican Presidential Primary Polls and has further propelled his campaign by tapping into the outrage over his recent indictment, he has continued to sell fake claims about election fraud all over the country.
In February, Michigan Republicans approved new state rules that will make it easier for Trump to win the nomination in the state, despite the growing faction within the party of those who no longer support Trump. The glaring issue at the heart of it all appears to be defining the ongoing Trump movement. While active Republicans in Michigan seem to broadly embrace Trump’s “America First” gimmick, they don’t agree on what that phrase actually means.
Many members of the GOP in Michigan remain skeptical of the 2020 election results, but they differ on whether continuing to focus on the issue is best for the party as they attempt to move forward. They disparage the party’s old guard members, but often fight over who they consider to be part of the establishment and who will actually lead the state party moving forward.
The situation has led to mutual suspicion and attempts to oust members from the party, and those efforts in turn have sparked accusations and counteraccusations that some members are trying to rig party elections. “There’s no one in control anymore,” said GOP consultant Jason Cabel Roe.
With the Republican base still continuing to struggle over messaging and leadership in several pivotal states, what remains clear is that the success of “Trump the figurehead” differs greatly from Trump’s messaging. One of the best explanations of this could be that many within the GOP don’t agree with Trump at all, but are still fearful of his retribution, so they are walking a fine line to keep from openly opposing him. Regardless, Republicans are not only incapable of civil leadership in Michigan, they are confounded in how to proceed with messaging headed into 2024, which only leaves them more vulnerable to Democratic candidates and ideals.
Amee Vanderpool writes the SHERO Newsletter, is an attorney, published author, contributor to newspapers and magazines, and an analyst for BBC radio. She can be reached at avanderpool@gmail.com or follow her on Twitter @girlsreallyrule.
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If Pmurt were jailed, indefinite postponement of the Documents trial would be acceptable. I'm from Michigan. I have suggestions for settling the gQp disputes, but I probably ought not to post them.