Populist Leadership Is Remaking the Michigan GOP from the Ground Up, Despite Opposition

A battle is raging in Michigan to determine whether the state GOP will be led by the grassroots and small donations, or a top-down approach to party leadership.

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

Kristina Karamo, the Trump-backed chair of the Republican Party of Michigan, has declared, “I was elected to disrupt decades of corruption and to return power back to the people.”

Ms. Karamo’s quest has ignited virulent opposition from what has come to be known as the “establishment” faction within the party that is seeking to remove her from her post.