Michigan GOP Averts A Leadership Fight
One of two contenders for Michigan Republican Party chair has dropped out.
A battle has been averted over leadership of the Michigan Republican Party. One of two contenders for the post of state party chair has dropped out.
Scott Hagerstrom was an early leader of the Michigan campaign for President Donald Trump, but that wasn’t enough to win him the job of state GOP chairman. The current chair, Ronna Romney McDaniel, is moving on to lead the Republican National Committee.
Top officials in the new Trump administration did not back Hagerstrom, throwing their support instead to Ron Weiser, a former state party chairman and prolific Republican fundraiser who was just elected to the board of the University of Michigan.
Hagerstrom withdrew from the race Sunday with a Facebook post.
“I am confident that Ron Weiser understands the future of the Michigan Republican Party lies in embracing constitutional principles that led to President Trump’s historic victory,” he wrote.
Michigan GOP Communications Director Sarah Anderson says the deadline has passed for more candidates to join.
“So there is no way for anybody else to get into the chair race,” she said. “I think most Republicans are very excited. It will be nice being united going into 2018, to not have to have a convention fight, which can sometimes get messy. So we’re excited to be united going into 2018.”
Control of every branch of Michigan government will be in play in 2018, as well as the U.S. Senate seat held by Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Democrat.
Ronna Romney McDaniel will chair both the Republican National Committee and the Michigan GOP until leadership elections at a state convention on February 11. The Detroit News reports Hagerstrom could be in line for a vice chair position.
