Trump endorses Matt DePerno in race for Michigan Republican Party chair

Detroit Free Press

LANSING − Former President Donald Trump endorsed Kalamazoo attorney Matt DePerno on Friday in the race for chairman of the Michigan Republican Party.

DePerno lost the 2022 attorney general election to incumbent Attorney General Dana Nessel by nearly nine points. Trump had also endorsed DePerno in that race.

Matt DePerno, Republican candidate for Michigan Attorney General shakes hands with former President Donald Trump during a Save America rally at the Michigan Stars Sports Center in Washington Township on Saturday, April 2, 2022.

"Republicans in Michigan must unite and work together if they want to save Michigan," which has fallen into the hands of "radical Democrats," Trump said in a news release. "We must start by supporting Matt DePerno for chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. He is the only candidate running who can get the job done!"

Eleven candidates are running to succeed Ann Arbor businessman Ron Weiser, who is not seeking another term. The party has suffered recent election setbacks and is facing a fundraising shortfall as Democrats hold the governor's office and majorities in both the state House and Senate for the first time in 40 years. Democratic nominees also hold a majority on the Michigan Supreme Court.

The choice is to be made at the GOP state party convention, held Feb. 17 and 18 in Lansing.

More:Here's who's running to be the next Michigan GOP chair

More:Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel faces GOP challenger Matthew DePerno: What to know

Also running for Michigan Republican Party chair is Kristina Karamo. Like DePerno, she has made unsupported claims that fraud affected the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. She was endorsed by Trump in her unsuccessful bid for secretary of state in 2022.

DePerno was the lawyer behind an Antrim County lawsuit that served as a vehicle to advance conspiracy theories about voting machines used in the 2020 presidential election. He is currently under criminal investigation for allegedly orchestrating an effort to gain unauthorized access to voting machines in Michigan in the wake of the 2020 election.

"He is the only candidate who has a proven background on election integrity, fundraising, party unity, and has my complete trust," said Trump, who has announced he is running for president in 2024.

Also running for party chair are Scott Aughney, Kent Boersema, Drew Born, Lena Epstein, Mike Farage, Mark Forton, JD Glaser, Scott Greenlee, and Billy Putman.