State House Republicans have ejected Representative Matt Maddock (R-Milford) from their caucus.
No reason was given, but Maddock has been involved in recruiting candidates to run against Republican incumbents.
Maddock also wants to be the next state House speaker and has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Current state House speaker Jason Wentworth (R-Farwell) is term limited.
Republican legislators made the decision in a closed-door meeting Tuesday.
Maddock and his wife, Meshawn Maddock, co-chair of the Michigan Republican Party, have successfully pushed for Trump to endorse a number of state candidates.
"Meshawn Maddock and Matt Maddock have played a key role in not only touting these Trump-endorsed candidates, but helping those candidates get Trump endorsements," Bridge Michigan reporter Jonathan Oosting told Michigan Radio's Morning Edition.
"And Trump has been really active endorsing in Michigan politics, not only at the statewide level for attorney general and secretary of state, but also legislative races. I think it's like a dozen candidates now. And Steve Bannon, the former White House adviser, has said publicly that Trump is trying to turn the Michigan legislature into a MAGA operation."
Maddock, who is in his second term, will continue to serve, but he won’t have access to the services that are offered to majority caucus members.
"In practical terms, he still has one vote, but he also is running for leadership of this House GOP caucus for the next term and at least has some support for that," Oosting said. "And certainly his goal of helping reshape the legislature by endorsing other candidates is an attempt to influence that leadership race as well, because any candidates that win election will have a vote for the next House GOP leader."
"Maddock is still a big figure in Michigan politics, even if he's not going to be caucusing with fellow House Republicans any longer."
Further reading: “Matt Maddock, a Trump favorite, ousted from Michigan GOP caucus” by Jonathan Oosting for Bridge Michigan
Editor's note: Quotes in this article have been edited for length and clarity. You can listen to the full conversation near the top of this page.
