LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Michigan Republican Party Chairman Bobby Schostak is not seeking another two-year term, which means someone else, will lead the party through the 2016 election cycle.
Schostak made the announcement Friday in an open letter to supporters. He says the state party is the "gold standard" for Republican state committees across the country and he will focus on helping state and national Republicans in "new ways."
Republicans first elected Schostak as chairman in 2011 and then again in 2013. The 58-year-old commercial real estate developer had previously been the GOP's finance chairman.
Republicans will gather February 20th through 21st at a state convention in Lansing to choose the next chair.
Potential candidates include Republican National Committee member Ronna Romney McDaniel, a niece of former presidential candidate Mitt Romney; state Representative Pete Lund and Paul Welday, a political consultant and former chairman of the Oakland County Republican Party.
Under Schostak's leadership, Republicans last month were re-elected to the governor, attorney general and secretary of state's offices, expanded their majorities in the Legislature and kept hold of the state Supreme Court. Democrats won the U.S. Senate race in November.
