Sen. Jim Runestad elected to lead Michigan Republican Party heading into key election year
State Sen. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake), April 20, 2022 | Laina G. Stebbins
Republicans from throughout the state gathered at Huntington Place in Detroit over the weekend to select the state party's new leadership heading into the 2026 election cycle.
At Saturday's biennial convention, which Michigan Advance was denied credentials to attend, the party's delegates ultimately elected state Sen. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) as chair after two rounds of voting, winning 63% of the vote according to Detroit News reporter Craig Mauger.
In his campaign for chair, Runestad touted his record as a top fundraiser and one of the state's most conservative legislators. During a GOP forum held in Berrien County last month, Runestad also noted his effort as an Oakland County commissioner to combat undocumented immigration by implementing the federal E-Verify program used to determine if employees are eligible to work in the United States.
He faced off against former party co-chair Meshawn Maddock, a longtime Trump loyalist who received the president's endorsement on Thursday. She is currently facing charges as part of the 2020 fake electors scheme intended to falsely deliver Michigan's electoral votes to Trump, despite his loss to former President Joe Biden.
Joe Cella, who served as Trump's ambassador to Fiji during his first term, also sought the party's top position. In addition to his work with the Trump administration, Cella served as the Catholic liaison for Trump's 2016 campaign, as well as a member of his transition team.
While Republican consultant Scott Greenlee initially campaigned for the position, he later dropped his bid and endorsed Maddock.
None of the three chair candidates received more than 50% of the votes during the first round of voting, according to results posted by Dan Wholihan, who was elected to chair Michigan's 7th Congressional District Republican Committee in 2023. Runestad and Maddock advanced to the second round of voting while Cella, who received the smallest percentage of the vote at 23.47%, was eliminated.
Maddock, who received 37% of the vote in the second round, later conceded, calling for a motion to cast a unanimous vote for Runestad.
With Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson facing term limits in 2026, Republicans are gearing up to try and claim each executive seat. However Benson has already announced her candidacy to be the Democrat's next nominee for Governor in 2026, with Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson also throwing his hat into the ring. On the Republican side, Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-Porter Twp.) has announced his bid for governor, as is Anthony Hudson, a truck driver from Genesee County. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, a lifelong Democrat, is running as an independent.
Alongside the state's three executive seats, the Michigan House of Representatives and Senate will be back on the ballot. Republicans currently hold a six-member majority in the House, while Democrats hold a one-member majority following the departure of U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) who resigned from the state Senate at the end of last year after winning election to Congress.
With U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Twp.) announcing he will not run for reelection, Republicans have the opportunity to claim another seat in the U.S. Senate, with the nonpartisan University of Virginia Center for Politics already rating the race a toss up. Freshman Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) is also expected to face a tight race in Michigan's 7th Congressional district, which the Cook Political report also rated as a toss up.
Michigan Democrats held their own convention down the street at the Renaissance Center on Saturday, where former state Sen. Curtis Hertel (D-East Lansing) was elected as chair, after longtime community organizer Al 'BJ' Wilson dropped out of the running.
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