RNC officially recognizes Pete Hoekstra as new Michigan GOP chair

The Republican National Committee (RNC) has officially recognized former Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.) to head the Michigan GOP, weighing in on turmoil over who controls the state party.

The RNC’s committee on contests affirmed that the controversial Kristina Karamo was properly ousted from the chair last month, according to a party official. A unanimous vote by the national party’s executive committee then ratified Hoekstra as chair.

But Karamo is continuing to insist she’s still in control.

“The Michigan Republican Party will continue to move forward under the leadership of the Karamo administration, and Kristina Karamo will continue serving as the duly elected Chairwoman,” the state party told The Hill in a statement.

In a video posted Wednesday to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Karamo claimed she’s “still legally the chair.”

Michigan Republicans voted in January to boot Karamo from her role, but her refusal to concede the position has sparked a power struggle between warring factions within the party.

Former President Trump, who had endorsed Karamo’s secretary of state bid in the 2022 midterm elections, backed Hoekstra to take over as chair.

“Both the RNC and our Party’s presumptive nominee Donald Trump, have now come forward and recognized me as the duly elected Chair of the Michigan Republican Party,” Hoekstra said in a post on X.

“It is time for the former Chair to join the fight to re-elect Donald Trump.  She would be welcomed,” Hoekstra, who also previously served as U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands, said of Karamo.

Michigan’s Feb. 27 presidential primary is less than two weeks away, and Republicans in the battleground state are looking to win big in 2024 with competitive congressional races and the state’s open Senate seat.

Lauren Sforza contributed. 

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