What to expect as Republicans and Democrats meet in Detroit this weekend to select new party chairs
On Saturday, members of the Michigan Democratic Party and the Michigan Republican Party will meet to, among other things, select their next chair to lead the party heading into 2026.
At the MIGOP convention, being held at Huntington Place in Detroit, members will select their next chair from three candidates: former party co-chair Meshawn Maddock, State Sen. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) and Joe Cella, who served as ambassador to Fiji during President Donald Trump’s first term. While Republican Consultant Scott Greenlee previously placed his hat in the ring, he has since dropped out, giving Maddock his endorsement.
Members of the Democratic Party, meeting at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, will choose between former state Sen. Curtis Hertel (D-East Lansing) and community organizer Al “BJ” Williams, with the former chair of the party’s Rural Caucus, Mark Ludwig, dropping his bid to run as second vice chair on the slate for the Michigan Solidarity Coalition.
While Republicans were able to win control of the House in 2024, they will need to defend that majority during the next election cycle as all 110 seats are back on the ballot. The 38 seats of the Michigan state Senate — which is currently led by Democrats — will also be on the ballot alongside the governorship as each party vies to reclaim control of the Legislature and the executive office.
https://michiganadvance.com/2025/02/18/what-to-expect-as-republicans-and-democrats-meet-in-detroit-this-weekend-to-select-new-party-chairs/