INTO THE FIRE
Michigan Republican party stalwarts who have not thrown in the towel yet after the drubbing this past November in the midterm elections are not too hopeful that the early 2023 delegate voting for a new state party chair will substantially improve the party’s chance in the long-term, let alone in 2024. State party co-chair Ron Weiser, at 72 years of age and we are told with a new main squeeze, has already announced he will be checking out, so there goes the main source of money that has kept this party alive. His Trump-acolyte co-chair, Meshawn Maddock of Milford, has not announced her plans. There seemed to be some excitement when former U.S. Representative Pete Hoekstra announced months ago that he would seek that state GOP top spot but insiders have told us that he has decided not to seek the position, leaving the party with a clown car of about seven candidates who think they can lead a revival of the party despite each having a poor record of either running their own campaigns and/or failure to raise money for 2022 races. Part of the problem, one Republican insider tells Oakland Confidential, is that at recent executive committee meetings the fringe element in the party basically cleaned house – the “adults in the room were kicked out.” So now Republicans have the choice of Matt DePerno, Kristina Karamo and Lena Epstein, all of whom were losers in the November general election. Add to the list, Michael Farage, William Putnam II from Tucola County and JD Glaser from Kalamazoo. Failed gubernatorial hopeful Tudor Dixon expressed an interest in leading the state party, but has said she is not seeking the post. The first deadline for filing for the post was Friday, December 23, when candidates have to submit the signatures of four county GOP chairs, of January 6 when seven county party chair signatures will be required. Past our deadline. Betting money with a number of Republican observers is on DePerno garnering enough support to become party chair when delegates cast votes in early 2023, although they all concede he will be a turn off for traditional Republicans and Independents. As for the ability to raise funds for the party, one involved party member said, “donors hate him.” The solution – “burn it down and start all over.”