Michigan Republicans gathered at a Detroit convention on Saturday, where they largely cheered President Donald Trump’s spending cuts and federal layoffs. However, they sent a clear message by rejecting his pick for state party chair.
State Senator Jim Runestad, representing White Lake Township, secured a decisive victory over Trump’s endorsed candidate, Meshawn Maddock, of Milford. In the second ballot at Huntington Place, he clinched nearly 63% of the vote from roughly 1,900 delegates. Following his win, Maddock made a motion to declare the victory unanimous, cementing Runestad’s new leadership role.
"We are going to turn the grassroots into a machine, along with the state party, to defeat the Democrats," Runestad proclaimed to the crowd. A well-known conservative figure, he has served in Michigan’s Senate since 2019, following a tenure in the state House from 2015 to 2018. Before entering politics, he led a financial services company.
Runestad, who was elected to a two-year term, assured reporters he would continue serving in the Senate while also fulfilling his new leadership responsibilities. His Senate term extends until the end of 2026, and he expressed confidence in balancing both roles.
Despite Trump’s continued influence over the party’s base, Saturday’s outcome marked yet another instance of Michigan delegates defying his endorsements. This was the third convention in two years where a Trump-backed candidate fell short. In 2023, delegates in Lansing picked Kristina Karamo over Kalamazoo attorney Matt DePerno for party chair. More recently, at a 2024 convention in Flint, delegates bypassed Trump’s pick for the Michigan Supreme Court, Judge Mark Boonstra, in favor of state Rep. Andrew Fink of Adams Township.
The convention atmosphere was largely positive, reflecting Michigan Republicans' excitement over Trump’s return to the White House in January and their success in regaining control of the state House in the November 5 election.
The focus now shifts to 2026, a critical election year where Michigan’s governorship, attorney general, and secretary of state positions will be up for grabs, along with both chambers of the state Legislature and an open U.S. Senate seat. Notably, Republicans have not won a U.S. Senate seat in Michigan since 1994.
Among the delegates, there was overwhelming support for Trump’s aggressive spending cuts and federal workforce reductions, despite some Republican districts voicing concerns over their impact. Still, at the convention, Trump’s policies were met with enthusiasm, reinforcing his strong grip on party activists.
Outgoing party Chair Pete Hoekstra, who awaits confirmation as Trump's ambassador to Canada, captured the sentiment with a comment that drew raucous applause: "Every morning, many of us wake up and say, 'What executive order is he going to sign today?'"
Delegates interviewed at the convention echoed similar sentiments. Many praised Trump’s fiscal policies and showed no interest in tempering his approach.
However, tensions within the party were evident, particularly regarding Maddock’s candidacy. Maddock, a controversial figure facing state criminal charges for falsely claiming to be a 2020 Michigan presidential elector, carried significant baggage. Some party members worried that electing her would only deepen internal divisions.
Two years ago, Michigan Republicans elected Kristina Karamo as party chair after her unsuccessful run for secretary of state in 2022. However, Karamo’s tenure ended in turmoil, marked by poor fundraising and internal discord. In January 2024, the party’s state committee voted to replace her with Hoekstra. Notably, Karamo never conceded her significant 2022 loss to Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.
At the convention, delegates voiced concerns about Maddock’s leadership potential, with some referencing her past missteps. Maddock had previously endorsed Republican candidates DePerno for attorney general and Karamo for secretary of state in 2022 before the convention—a move seen as controversial, given that top state party officials typically remain neutral.
Jeannie Burchfield, a Calhoun County delegate who nominated third-place finisher Joe Cella, was blunt in her assessment: "This is not the time to elect leaders who have failed in the past."
Cella, a longtime party activist and former Trump-appointed U.S. ambassador to Fiji, ultimately endorsed Runestad after the first ballot. His supporters highlighted his integrity and commitment to impartiality in party nominations.
Hank Choate, a delegate from Michigan’s 5th Congressional District and one of the defendants facing charges in the false elector case, also backed Cella. He emphasized the importance of ethical leadership, saying, "Joe Cella will not put his finger on the scales when it comes to party nominations."
Despite her loss, Maddock maintained a defiant stance. In a video message played for delegates ahead of voting, she declared, "One of the lessons learned in the last decade is that Donald Trump is always right," as an image of Trump’s social media endorsement of her flashed across the screen.
Her supporters, including Meghan Reckling, a party activist and former Livingston County chair, praised her as "disciplined, strategic, and unwavering," with an undeniable fearlessness. However, that wasn’t enough to sway the majority of delegates.
One delegate, Josh Powell, sported a "MAGA" baseball cap and a Runestad campaign shirt. He suggested that Trump may have endorsed Maddock based on limited information. "I think Trump probably made the endorsement on about 30 seconds worth of information," he said. "I respect his endorsement, but the internal politics is different."
Powell, a former GOP candidate for Michigan’s 25th House District, acknowledged Maddock’s strengths but believed Runestad would be a more effective communicator and fundraiser for the party.
As Michigan Republicans look ahead to 2026, they do so with new leadership at the helm. Runestad’s victory signals a shift within the state party—one that embraces conservative values but isn’t afraid to challenge Trump’s directives when necessary. Whether this approach strengthens or divides the party further remains to be seen.
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