Michigan Republicans Vote to Remove State GOP Chairwoman Karamo; Party Calls Attempt Illegal

The chairwoman has faced criticism for a significant decline in donations as she shifts the Michigan GOP from being funded by megadonors to grassroots.

Kristina Karamo speaks at a rally hosted by former President Donald Trump near Washington, Mich., on April 2, 2022. Scott Olson/Getty Images

Some Michigan Republicans voted on Jan. 6 to remove state GOP Chairwoman Kristina Karamo at a state committee meeting. However, the action was quickly denounced by the state’s Republican Party, which called it illegal.

A Jan. 6 statement bearing the letterhead of the Michigan Republican Party claimed that Ms. Karamo was removed from her post and that Malinda Pego, who served as the co-chair of the party, will be the acting chair. The statement was issued by Ms. Pego, according to a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, by investigative journalist Laura Loomer.

However, the Michigan GOP issued a statement dismissing the claims.

“This allegation that Chairwoman Kristina Karamo has been removed is patently false,” the Michigan GOP said in an X post.

“@mdeperno was easily defeated by Chairwoman Karamo by a blowout margin in their race for MI GOP Chairperson,” it stated, referring to Ms. Karamo defeating former Attorney General Matthew DePerno in February 2023 to become the GOP head.

Mr. DePerno was endorsed by former President Donald Trump to be the chair; Ms. Karamo also has the backing of President Trump.

“This sore-loser retribution will not be tolerated within the Michigan Republican Party,” the party stated.

“The rogue cabal of anti-grassroots establishment operatives, led by Malinda Pego, initiated the attempted coup when they colluded with Matt DePerno and other unethical individuals from the Oakland County Republican Committee,” the Michigan GOP said in a statement.

The party claimed that the votes were “illegitimate” and violated party bylaws and state election laws.

“Chairwoman Kristina Karamo and her administrative officials will take swift and decisive action to hold all participants in today’s attempted coup accountable to the fullest extent allowed under the rules of the Michigan Republican Party bylaws,” the statement reads.