Public Media from Michigan State University

MI GOP averts leadership fight

Scott Hagerstrom has withdrawn his bid to chair the Michigan Republican Party.
Scott Pohl

A battle has been averted over leadership of the Michigan Republican Party. One of two contenders for the post of state party chair has dropped out.

Scott Hagerstrom led the state Donald Trump campaign, but that wasn’t enough to win him the job.

Top officials in the new Trump administration did not back Hagerstrom, throwing their support instead to Ron Weiser, a former state party chairman and prolific Republican fundraiser.

Sarah Anderson is the Michigan GOP communications director. She says the deadline has passed for more candidates to join “so there is no way for anybody else to get into the chair race.”

Anderson says that’s good news for Republicans, who won’t face a potentially divisive leadership fight as they prepare for the 2018 election, where control of every branch of Michigan government will be in play.

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Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987. His journalism background includes stints with UPI, The Elizabeth (NJ) Daily Journal, The (Pontiac, MI) Oakland Press, and WJR. He is also a lifelong public radio listener.