Ex-Michigan GOP Chairwoman Escorted Out of State Party Convention By Police
Flint, Michigan
Former Michigan Republican Party Chairwoman Kristina Karamo was escorted out of the state GOP’s convention on Saturday by police, as the gathering of delegates got off to a raucous start inside the Dort Financial Center in Flint.
Disorderly Conduct
At about noon another yet unidentified individual was removed from the arena by security officers. His arms bound behind his back after objections over his disruptive yelling at people in the crowd. Meanwhile, Karamo was on the convention floor from about 11 a.m., but the party contended that she wasn’t a registered delegate from her home county of Oakland. She was surrounded by her supporters with security officials trying to converse with her.
Eventually, Karamo was walked off by two police officers — amidst shoving between a security guard and one of the people with Karamo. She was then escorted out through the lobby, during which she engaged with reporters, and finally out of the arena. Her apparent offense was her attempt to support a candidate, despite not being a registered delegate.
Karamo’s Statement and Party’s Response
“I’m here to support a candidate. Pete Hoekstra and his thugs are trying to have me thrown out of the convention.”, Karamo stated while being escorted out. “All I did was walk in to try to support a candidate, and now, they want me thrown out.”
The candidate Karamo was referring to is Alexandria Taylor, who was seeking a Republican nomination for the Michigan Supreme Court at the convention. In response, Tyson Shepard, the Michigan GOP’s executive director, stated that Karamo was not a registered delegate for Saturday’s convention, and though she was offered guest credentials, she refused to accept them, necessitating the involvement of law enforcement.
Karamo’s Party Standing and Future Implications
Karamo, who has been a favorite within the party’s grassroots wing, and a former secretary of state candidate, was elected as the state party’s chairwoman in 2023. However, she was ousted in January this year. A group of Michigan Republican state committee members disapproved of her leadership style and struggles to raise money and voted to remove her. However, another faction voted to keep her.
In February, a ruling from a Kent County Circuit Court judge legally recognized Pete Hoekstra, a former U.S. House member, as the new chairman following the accordance of Karamo’s removal with party bylaws. Hoekstra was openly booed by some during his speech at the Saturday convention.
The ejected individual post-Karamo incident seems to add to the tension within the party. He accused Hoekstra of being a “fake chair” while being taken out by police. Despite the internal disputes, Chairman Hoekstra emphasizes the importance of unity behind GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump and U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers.
Alexandria Taylor’s Views
Taylor, under whose election campaign Karamo was supposedly working, expressed disappointment over Karamo’s eviction from the convention. She made a point that irrespective of personal likes and dislikes, the common goal should be given paramount importance. “You don’t have to like who I like. I don’t have to like who you like. But we can still be on the same team,” Taylor stated.
