Karamo to lead Michigan Republican Party, beating Trump-endorsed DePerno

Lansing — Kristina Karamo, who lost her secretary of state race by 14 percentage points but refused to concede, will lead the Michigan Republican Party following an 11-hour convention and three rounds of voting Saturday at the Lansing Center.

Karamo, considered a favorite among the party's grassroots but viewed as divisive among the establishment, beat out former attorney general candidate Matt DePerno, 58% to 42%, in the third round of voting. DePerno had been endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

Nolan Finley:R.I.P., Michigan GOP

The Oak Park educator and conservative activist will take the reins months after the Michigan GOP in November lost long-held majorities in the House and Senate and lost races seeking to oust the incumbent Democratic governor, secretary of state and attorney general. She becomes the first Black person to lead the Michigan GOP.

After her election Saturday night, Karamo told The Detroit News her first priority as party chair is to grow the party with everyday residents and individuals in “areas we’ve never penetrated, especially in urban America." She said the party would focus on local issues over national politics.

“We’re looking forward to a party that’s successful," Karamo said. "We look forward to having a Republican Party that shows Michiganders that we’re here to serve. We’re good neighbors and we’re going to be winning elections again.”

Both of the final two candidates, Karamo and DePerno, had denied the results of the 2020 election: Trump's loss. Critics of Karamo questioned her ability to unite the party, raise money and her history of spreading unfounded conspiracy theories involving elections, porn and yoga.

Jason Roe, a former executive director of the Michigan Republican Party, said "crazy" had trumped Trump at Saturday's convention. 

Former state Rep. Aaron Miller, a Republican from Sturgis, said Karamo's victory indicated some Michigan Republicans want to keep losing elections. Miller called it a sad day for the GOP.

"The Republican Party is now pretty well cemented as the party of election denying, conspiracy theories, tin hats and supporting Capitol riots," Miller said. "I'll pass. I'll continue to write good people in on my election ballots. The sooner they can return to the party of sensibility and economic prosperity, the sooner they can start winning." 

Karamo dismissed concerns about declining donations to the state party, saying that’s “going to change right away.”

“People need to see a competent party,” Karamo said. “They need to see a well-organized party. They need to see a party actually advocating for the values we espouse.

“People have to see something worth investing in," she said, "and the party hasn’t proven itself to be such.”

Karamo's election as state party chair marks the first time in state history that both the Michigan Republican and Democratic parties are chaired by Black women. Last weekend, Democrats reelected Lavora Barnes to a third term as chairwoman of the Michigan Democratic Party.

During her remarks on Saturday, Karamo said she refused to concede her 615,000-vote loss to Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson because the election was a "fraudulent process." She has repeatedly made unproven and false claims about Michigan's voting system. 

Karamo, DePerno and Lansing political consultant Scott Greenlee were initially the top three vote-getters in what was a nine-person race at the start of the convention Saturday morning in downtown Lansing. They advanced to a second round before Karamo beat DePerno in the third and final vote.

Thousands of Michigan Republican Party delegates participate in the convention as they considered who should be their new leader after suffering historic losses in the November 2022 election.

During her speech before the first vote, Karamo touted her decision last year not to concede the secretary of state race to Benson in November and said the party's current leadership operated like a "political mafia." Longtime GOP mega-donor Ron Weiser, a wealthy Ann Arbor businessman, opted against seeking another term as party chairman.

“We’re going to be a political machine that strikes fear in the heart of Democrats," Karamo told delegates. "We’re going to win.”

Before the November election, she unsuccessfully sued and asked a judge to require residents of Detroit, Michigan's largest city, to vote in person or obtain their ballots in person at the clerk's office.

A judge rejected the litigation, saying her claims were "unsubstantiated" or misinterpreted Michigan election law.

On Dec. 18, Karamo released a vision for the party that included converting "'GOP-phobic youth' by transitioning schools from indoctrination to education," giving "precinct delegates control over the party" and holding Republican elected officials "accountable to using the Constitution as their measure for governing."

"Anyone who does not treat systemic election corruption commensurate with the state and national threat it is, should be disqualified from any position in party leadership," Karamo's plan said.

The convention lasted about 11 hours with delegates battling over how the votes at the event would be counted and last-minute jockeying among the 10 candidates for party chair.

Some Republicans voiced frustration and uncertainty about the party’s direction Saturday. 

Matthew Wilk of Northville said Republicans can’t rely on the state party to do things the state GOP used to do.

“I think the party recreates itself locally. I think we’re going to focus on local issues,” Wilk said. “I think we’re going to do local infrastructure and getting back to basics, the blocking and tackling of winning elections."

On Saturday morning, Macomb County Republican Chairman Mark Forton dropped out of the state chair race, leaving nine remaining candidates. Forton endorsed Karamo before the first round of voting. Forton said his decision was meant to ensure that a "grassroots-type" hopeful had a chance to win.

“I honestly believe on the first vote she’s going to have the most votes," Forton said in an interview on the convention floor of Karamo.

In order to win the chair position, a candidate had to receive more than 50% support.

DePerno and Karamo were viewed as the favorites because they have been working with delegates for more than a year as it was the delegates who nominated them for attorney general and secretary of state last year.

DePerno lost to Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel by 9 percentage points in November. Karamo lost to Benson by 14 percentage points. Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also won another term with Democrats taking control of the Legislature for the first time in 40 years.

A lawyer by trade, DePerno rose to political prominence challenging the 2020 presidential election results and spearheading a lawsuit over the vote in northern Michigan's Antrim County.

In August, Nessel sought a special prosecutor to consider charges against DePerno and eight others over an alleged conspiracy to gain improper access to voting machines. The special prosecutor, D.J. Hilson, hasn't yet announced a decision.

Trump, who's campaigning for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024, endorsed DePerno for party chair in January. Trump's campaign lawyer, Christina Bobb, worked with DePerno on the convention floor. Other Republican activists also lined up behind DePerno, citing his aggressive approach.

“I have always supported Matt DePerno,” said state Rep. Angela Rigas, R-Caledonia, as she entered the convention on Saturday.

Rigas described DePerno as the person who can unite the party.

But some Republicans were concerned about DePerno's track record. Conservative lawyer David Kallman, whose office is based in Lansing, said DePerno has done things he doesn't agree with. Kallman declined to detail the issues.

Kallman had hoped Greenlee would pull out an upset.

“I think he’d be the best to try to unify everybody," Kallman said.

Greenlee, who's worked in politics for more than three decades, appeared to be gaining some level of support on Saturday. Greenlee said Republicans were responding to his message of activating and engaging the delegates.

“The secret to a good campaign is to peak at the right time," Greenlee said. "We tried to plot our strategy that way. And I think we’re peaking."

Greenlee advanced to the second round of voting ahead of other contenders Tuscola County GOP Chairman Billy Putman, J.D. Glaser of Cass County, Michael Farage of Grand Rapids Scott Aughney of Jackson County, Kent Boersma of Muskegon County and Drew Born of Kent County.

Putman and Glaser each got 12% on the first ballot.

cmauger@detroitnews.com

eleblanc@detroitnews.com