DETROIT – The Michigan GOP made it clear Monday in its weekly newsletter that Kristina Karamo is still in charge.
“First, to paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of my removal as Chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party are greatly exaggerated,” Karamo wrote.
Over the weekend at a special meeting in Commerce Township, a vote was taken to remove Karamo as chair.
Background: Kristina Karamo ousted as head of Michigan GOP
Some members accused her of destroying the party.
“These individuals have violated several aspects of the bylaws to unlawfully remove me as chair,” Karamo said.
The vote came less than a year after the former community college instructor was selected as chair.
“I am just focused on winning elections. Yes, this is a distraction. But that’s kind of the point. Since I became elected as chair of the Michigan Republican Party, there has been an effort to delegitimize me as chair,” Karamo said.
She said that her administration is taking the appropriate steps to hold those accountable for the illegal actions taken at the gathering. But Karamo didn’t detail those steps.
The on-going chaos has Michigan republicans on edge.
“It is not a great way to attract candidates, it’s also not a great way to attract non-Republican voters to the party,” Republican strategist Jason Roe said.
Roe said it’s not too late to right the ship before the upcoming election.
“But I expect with what happened on Saturday that we are probably going to see a lot more kicking and screaming over the next weeks and months that are going to get in the way of campaigns organizing and working with the party to be effective in November,” he said.
Local 4 reached out to the Republican National Committee for comment but have not heard back yet.
The Michigan Republican Party said Karamo has been making false claims and released the following statement:
“Although some seek to divide, now is the time for our party to come together and work to elect Republicans across our great state. I believe the best is yet to come.”
Acting Chair Malinda Pego