LANSING — Since Peter Meijer announced his entrance into Michigan’s “caustic,” “radioactive,” and “increasingly crowded” Republican “Senate showdown,” a wave of new reporting details how his candidacy has unleashed a “strikingly candid and aggressive” “clash” between Republicans.
See for yourself:
The Detroit News: Michigan GOP blames ‘intern’ for anti-Peter Meijer tweet
- The Michigan Republican Party blamed an intern for a social media post Monday that targeted U.S. Senate candidate Peter Meijer, within hours of the former congressman joining a crowded primary race for the GOP’s nomination.
- “Peter Meijer voted to impeach President Trump. Remember that,” the Michigan Republican Party’s official account on X posted at about 9:45 a.m. Monday. Minutes later, the Michigan Republican Party deleted the message. Then, the party issued a statement, saying it remained “neutral and supportive of all Republican primary candidates.”
- “Unfortunately, an over-zealous intern posted a negative comment regarding a candidate that does not reflect the position of MIGOP,” the statement said. “This matter has since been dealt with and the post removed. Our sincerest apologies.”
- Ordinarily, party chairs and the party itself stay out of convention and primary fights to avoid claims of bias and to focus attention on campaigns against Democrats. But the current Michigan GOP chairwoman, Kristina Karamo, has been openly critical of Meijer in the past.
- Meijer’s campaign didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about the Michigan Republican Party’s deleted social media post.
Detroit Free Press: “Meijer is entering an increasingly crowded field that includes former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers and former Detroit Police Chief James Craig among others… Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Lavora Barnes put out a statement Monday saying, ‘Michigan Republicans’ nasty, chaotic Senate primary is getting even messier. Their intra-party fight is guaranteed to leave them with a nominee who is badly damaged and out of step with working families.’ She also criticized his support for abortion restrictions and tax cuts that Barnes said benefited the wealthy and corporations more so than working people.”
The Detroit News: “The Michigan Republican Party waded into the fray by tweeting Monday morning: ‘Peter Meijer voted to impeach President Trump. Remember that.’ The post was quickly deleted, and the state GOP issued a statement claiming it was the work of an ‘over-zealous intern.’ … The National Republican Senatorial Committee, the campaign arm of Senate Republicans, however, did not pull its punches. The group’s executive director, Jason Thielman, said Monday that Meijer “isn’t viable in a primary election, and there’s worry that if Meijer were nominated, the base would not be enthused in the general election.”
Midland Daily News: “Following his Senate campaign announcement, the official account of the Michigan Republican Party posted on X (formerly Twitter): ‘Peter Meijer voted to impeach President Trump. Remember that.’ The statement was later deleted and the party offered a statement saying it remained ‘neutral and supportive of all Republican primary candidates’ although its recent behavior points to supporting all things Trump. National Republican Senatorial Committee executive director Jason Thielman said in a statement that Meijer “isn’t viable in a primary election, and there’s worry that if Meijer were nominated, the base would not be enthused in the general election.”
The Hill: Senate GOP campaign arm clashes with Republican Meijer over Michigan Senate bid
- The Senate GOP’s campaign arm is clashing with former Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Mich.) over his bid for an open Senate seat in Michigan.
- The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has courted former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) to enter the race, and it quickly sought to throw cold water on Meijer’s bid by saying he couldn’t win a GOP primary or bring out the base to win a general election.
- “Peter Meijer isn’t viable in a primary election, and there’s worry that if Meijer were nominated, the base would not be enthused in the general election,” NRSC Executive Director Jason Thielman said in a statement.
- Meijer’s campaign quickly hit back at the NRSC, with his campaign saying in a statement to The Hill: “Not surprised that DC Republicans prefer someone who won’t rock the boat and will do as he’s told. That’s not me.”
- “Call me old-fashioned, but I care more about what Michigan voters think. NRSC admits on background that they’d prefer a centrist … and that’s fine. That’s not me either. I’m a constitutionalist conservative,” the statement added.
- The clash signals a potentially messy GOP primary. …The Michigan GOP Senate race already includes former Detroit Police Chief James Craig, among other contenders.
POLITICO: Senate GOP campaign arm whacks Meijer for entering Michigan Senate race
- Former Michigan Rep. Peter Meijer’s announcement that he would make a run for the state’s Senate seat was met with a less than enthusiastic response from the Senate Republicans’ campaign arm. Thanks, the National Republican Senatorial Committee said. But no thanks.
- “Peter Meijer isn’t viable in a primary election, and there’s worry that if Meijer were nominated, the base would not be enthused in the general election,” NRSC Executive Director Jason Thielman said in a statement to POLITICO.
- Thielman’s statement represents a strikingly candid and aggressive shot across the bow to a candidate who, in prior eras, might have been cheered by national Republicans in his pursuit of a perpetual swing state. But not this cycle.
- Republicans haven’t captured a Senate seat in Michigan since 1994.
The Washington Times: Republicans whack anti-Trump GOP candidate Peter Meijer’s run for Senate
- Peter Meijer’s campaign launch on Monday for a U.S. Senate seat in Michigan was met with swift opposition from his Republican Party and criticism that the ex-congressman was out of step with GOP voters.
- Mr. Meijer’s entry into the crowded field has Senate Republicans’ campaign arm concerned he could act as a spoiler helping defeat the preferred GOP candidate in the crucial battleground state.
- “Peter Meijer isn’t viable in a primary election, and there’s worry that if Meijer were nominated, the base would not be enthused in the general election,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee Executive Director Jason Thielman.
- The NRSC, which is backing former Rep. Mike Rogers in the race, privately urged Mr. Meijer against running, according to a source familiar with the matter. Mr. Meijer shot back at the NRSC in a statement to The Washington Times.
- “Not surprised that D.C. Republicans prefer someone who won’t rock the boat and will do as he’s told. That’s not me,” Mr. Meijer said. “Call me old-fashioned, but I care more about what Michigan voters think. NRSC admits on background that they’d prefer a centrist, and that’s fine. That’s not me either. I’m a constitutionalist conservative.”
- The Michigan Republican Party was also an initial critic of Mr. Meijer’s candidacy, posting on X: “Peter Meijer voted to impeach President Trump. Remember that.” However, the group quickly deleted the “over-zealous” statement they said was from an intern and followed suit with an apology.
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