In a significant development, a Michigan court has upheld the dismissal of Kristina Karamo from her role as the chair of the state’s Republican Party. This ruling could potentially resolve a contentious leadership dispute just ahead of the party’s convention this weekend.
Judge J. Joseph Rossi of the Kent County Circuit Court issued a preliminary injunction on Tuesday, stating that Karamo’s removal from her position on January 6 was legitimate. The state’s GOP committee had voted to expel her, and the court ruled that any actions she has undertaken on behalf of the party since her removal are “null and void.”
The court order, a copy of which was made public by NBC News, also bars Karamo from presenting herself as the chair of the Michigan Republican State Committee or conducting any business on the party’s behalf. CNN has attempted to contact Karamo for her comments on the ruling.
The court’s decision marks a victory for Pete Hoekstra, a former ambassador and congressman who has been endorsed by the Republican National Committee and former President Donald Trump as the rightful chair of the Michigan Republican Party.
Trump emerged victorious in Michigan’s GOP primary on Tuesday, as projected by CNN. This is the first of two contests this week that will determine the allocation of the state’s 2024 presidential delegates. The state party is set to hold its convention on Saturday, where it will assign additional delegates for the Republican National Convention. Karamo had planned to hold a rival convention, which could have complicated the process.
Under Karamo’s leadership, the Michigan GOP was reportedly plagued by internal discord and financial difficulties. A CNN investigation published in late 2023 revealed that the party’s financial woes had escalated to the point where internal records showed the state party had a net income of just $71,000 over a nine-month period, ending with a debt of $600,000.