The MIGOP is strapped for cash, struggling to fundraise, and may not be complying with campaign finance laws
LANSING — In case you missed it, the Detroit News exposed the MIGOP in back-to-back damning stories this weekend for its extreme financial deterioration. According to the reports, as of mid-August, the Republican state party has a measly $35,000 in the bank and Chair Karamo seems to be making shady transfers of cash from her own campaign war chest, raising some major red flags. On the heels of these revelations, the MAGA MIGOP’s week is starting about as badly as last week ended.
After fully embracing MAGA extremism down the ballot in 2022, Michigan Republicans are now clearly floundering – and it’s worse than we could have ever imagined. These bombshell, and frankly, embarrassing, articles show how the Karamo-Hall party is mired in dysfunction, financial debt, and completely lacking any ounce of respectability that the state party used to have. One thing is clear – Michigan Republicans have no plan for themselves, much less for how to serve the people of Michigan.
Check out the full details of what these stories uncovered below:
Detroit News: Michigan Republican Party faces financial turmoil, bank records show
- The Michigan Republican Party had about $35,000 in its bank accounts in August, according to internal records that flash new warning signs about the dire state of the GOP’s finances and raise questions about whether the organization is complying with campaign finance laws.
- At this point, 13 months before a presidential election, the Michigan Republican Party should have about $10 million in its accounts…The party had less than 1% of the $10 million target.
- “These numbers demonstrate that the party isn’t just broke, but broken,” [Tom] Leonard said.
- In March, just after she became chairman in February, Karamo told a group the party had $460,000 in debt from the past leadership team… what is unusual, according to longtime Michigan Republicans, is the struggle the party in a key battleground state is having collecting money.
Detroit News: Michigan GOP bank records reveal secret contribution from Karamo campaign
- Amid a financial crunch, Michigan Republican Party Chairwoman Kristina Karamo’s past secretary of state campaign quietly loaned the GOP $15,000 earlier this year, according to internal bank records, revealing a move that experts say could violate disclosure laws.
- “Karamo for SOS,” the chairwoman’s campaign committee for secretary of state, transferred $15,000 to the federal account, providing a positive new balance of $9,331. The shift allowed a $6,000 check to an undisclosed person or company to go through
- Karamo’s secretary of state campaign committee hasn’t reported a $15,000 expenditure to the Michigan Republican Party this year.
- Since she took over, the Federal Election Commission, which regulates the state party’s federal fundraising account, has repeatedly raised questions about the party’s disclosures.
More on these findings from The Detroit News below:
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