Former ambassador, Ron Weiser, has emerged as the presumptive next chair of the Michigan Republican Party.
That’s after current chair Laura Cox decided not to seek another term.
Weiser is a wealthy businessman who has served in the role twice before – from 2009 to 2011 and from 2017 to 2019.
John Sellek is a consultant who’s worked for Republican elected officials and candidates.
He says the challenge for the next chair is to make sure the party is forward looking.
“Somehow making that turn away from the grievances of the past and decisions that can’t be changed and make the focus on how Republicans are different than the decisionmakers that are in place now. And it’s unknown right now who can make that turn happen,” says Sellek.
He says the challenge for Republicans is to shift away from the President Donald Trump era to focus on elections next year.
"If the fight is still being controlled by President Trump through Twitter or Facebook or whatever methods he’s able to use going forward that’s going to be a big headache and a big distraction,” he says.
Meshawn Maddock is also on the leadership ticket with Weiser. That’s created some controversy because she helped organize busses for people to go to Washington, D.C. to try to stop Congress from certifying the victory of President-elect Joe Biden. A Pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday, interrupting the certification process. But Congress resumed later Wednesday evening and certified Biden's victory early Thursday morning.
Some Republicans have called for Maddock to withdraw.
The Michigan GOP leadership convention is next month.
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