Updates About Elections

Late Friday evening at Michigan Republican Convention in Lansing, Kristina Karamo was elected to serve as the state party chair, fending off former attorney general candidate and Trump-endorsed Matt DePerno by a total of 58 percent to 42 percent, respectively. Former Muskegon County Commissioner Malinda Pego will serve as co-chair.

Karamo beat out eight other candidates for chair in the third round of voting. The process took approximately ten hours as MI GOP chose to hand count all ballots instead of using electronic voting tabulators. In her victory speech, Karamo predicted Republicans would see key wins in 2024, including the White House, U.S. Senate, and Michigan state House.

Karamo was the Republican nominee for secretary of state in 2022 but lost to incumbent Jocelyn Benson by fourteen points.

On February 1, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Senate Bill 13, a bill to move the presidential primary in Michigan from the second Tuesday in March to the fourth Tuesday in February.

Throughout the legislative process, Republicans voiced concerns that changing the primary breaks the Republican National Committee (RNC) rules that prohibit Michigan from holding primaries before March 1. Consequently, the bill failed to collect enough Republican votes in the Senate to ensure immediate effect.

Under the state Constitution, a law cannot take effect until 90 calendar days after the end of the legislative session year. For this bill to apply to the 2024 presidential primary, the state Legislature would have to adjourn for the year by November 29. However, Governor Whitmer would be able call special session days for the Legislature to finish any business throughout the remainder of the year.

For the upcoming presidential primary in 2024, Michigan is slated to vote on February 27.

On January 13, Governor Whitmer announced the re-appointment of Mary Ellen Gurewitz and Richard Houskamp to the Board of State Canvassers. Mary Ellen Gurewitz of Detroit was appointed to represent Democrats and Richard Houskamp of Grand Rapids is appointed to represent Republicans. Both of their terms begin on February 1, 2023 and will expire January 31, 2027. Their appointments are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

The Board of State Canvassers canvasses and certifies statewide elections, canvasses nominating petitions and state-level ballot proposals and their petitions, approves electronic voting systems for use in the state and, when necessary, conducts recounts for state-level offices. The Board is currently composed of four members with two members from each major political party.