Flailing Michigan GOP Loses Another Top Potential 2022 Candidate

In yet another big recruitment fail for the Michigan GOP, RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel announced this morning she will not be running for Michigan governor in 2022. Our condolences to the RGA. This isn’t much of a loss for Michiganders though – McDaniel is just another far-right extremist who openly supported Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.
 
McDaniel’s announcement comes on the heels of MI GOP “dream candidate” Candice Miller also passing on a gubernatorial run – “a big disappointment for party leadership.” 
 
Republicans are running scared in Michigan – the MI GOP continues to fail to recruit anyone viable to run against Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and other top Republicans like Michigan State Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and former GOP Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield are in hot water for scandals and controversies. Cook Political has rated Michigan as “lean Democrat” and has warned Gov. Whitmer “won’t be as easy to knock off as some Republicans had initially hoped,” as demonstrated by her consistently high approval ratings.
 
With McDaniel and Miller out, the GOP race is still wide open, with the void being filled by far-right extremists and potentially disastrous candidates like Lena Epstein being floated. So far, the announced candidates are Allendale Township official Ryan Kelley, who is facing calls for removal from his position after he was spotted at the U.S. Capitol insurrection, and Austin Chenge, who was with Kelley in supporting the violent mob at the Capitol.
 
“Another swing and a miss for the Michigan GOP,” said DGA Deputy Communications Director Sam Newton. “Michigan’s top Republicans may support disastrous policies and push dangerous conspiracies, but at least they have the sense to know it’s a bad idea to run against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Republicans’ choices look bleak so far, and it’s clear whoever runs, the primary will be a race to the right to win over Trump’s radical base.”