The clown car of Republican jesters blowing the horn to round up support for Michigan Republican chair continues to crowd out any serious candidates eager to rebuild the state’s conservative party. January 5 was the last day to file and get signatures to appear on the state convention February 17-18 to determine who will lead the party into the next election cycle. Typically, the role is to raise money, first, and to bolster candidates who can win. Considering that the state

Speaking of Republican Matt DePerno, despite losing to become state attorney general, remaining under criminal investigation by a special prosecutor in a possible vote tampering scheme and under examination by the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission over possible padding of billings, he has a new questionable idea he has proposed to Republican delegates as he seeks their votes for post of GOP chair: ballot harvesting. As in, pay people to collect absentee ballots. Which is

For those in the party who are toasting the exit of Meshawn Maddock, better put your glasses down. Her son-in-law, Parker Shonts, is seeking the vice-chair position with the state party youth faction at the convention next month. While some are writing the spot off as a mere ceremonial position, one Republican consultant says not so fast. Says he: there are two ways to reach a position of power  in the state party – you are either an elected Republican office-holder at some p

In what we hope will be one of our last items about the Maddock family, Milford-based state Republican Representative Matt (Mad Dog) Maddock appears to have finally set himself on fire. Last term he was bounced from the Republican caucus for reportedly leaking party secrets to others outside the caucus, breaking a cardinal rule. The caucus ban left him further isolated as he was plotting to be some big-cheese in the House if the GOP retained control – which they failed to do.

The announcement in early January by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) that “Inspired by a new generation of leaders, I have decided to pass the torch in the U.S. Senate,” and not run for re-election in 2024 set off a cavalcade of potential names rushing to the doors to replace her. Stabenow, of Lansing, is the number three Democrat in Senate leadership – so those shoes will be large ones to fill. She has quietly gone about her role in the last five decades (she was first electe

The speculation heats up more each day with a growing list of possible Republican contenders for Stabenow’s Senate seat. Among them, Congressman Bill Huizenga; former Congresswoman Candace Miller, now the public works commissioner in neighboring Macomb County, and a former Michigan Secretary of State; state  Sen. Ruth Johnson (R-Lake Orion), also a former Michigan Secretary of State; former congressmen Fred Upton and Peter Meijer; former Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuett

The Oakland County Republican Party has a new command roster, beginning with R. (Robert) Vance Patrick as chair, replacing Rocky Raczkowski, who retired from the command post. Vance was an unsuccessful candidate for Congress in 2020 against Brenda Lawrence (D-Southfield) who took 79.3 percent of the vote. Patrick also attempted in 2022 another run for Congress but was disqualified from appearing on the ballot  for the August primary. As chair of the county party, Vance Patric

Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein, a downtown Birmingham resident, complained about a hiring decision made by fellow Justice Kyra Bolden Harris who put on the payroll as her clerk Pete Martel, who had done 14 years in prison for a 1994 convenience store robbery and for shooting at police. Although Bernstein said he supported rehabilitation of those who were incarcerated, his honor objected to anyone who had shot at police from being part of the Supreme Court or