A court case was heard in Grand Rapids byKent County Judge J. Joseph Rossi in late February determined who controls the state party. Judge Rossi dismissed a lawsuit by Karamo on February 20 to dismiss the case allowing for full hearings on the lawsuit filed by Karamo's critics later in the week regarding whether the RNC recognized chair Hoekstra or Karamo controls the MIGOP.[4] Judge Rossi on February 27 issued a preliminary injunction against Karamo, stating was properly removed as MIGOP chair and barring access by her to MIGOP bank accounts or post office boxes. Karamo declined to say whether she would appeal the ruling and had no comment as to whether the Detroit caucuses will take place.[5][6] A full trial regarding control of the MIGOP is scheduled to take place on June 10.[7] The Michigan Court of Appeals denied a request on February 29 by Karamo to issue a stay on the court order putting her Detroit caucus in doubt.[8] The chaos affected northern Michigan GOP participants fromMichigan's 1st congressional district who had planned to go to Detroit but were barred by missing the deadline to take part in the Grand Rapids caucus. So a third gathering is planned the same day inHoughton Lake.[9] A contingent fromMichigan's 4th congressional district was also denied credentials for the Grand Rapids caucuses, so a fourth gathering was announced for the same day inBattle Creek.[10] The Detroit gathering was cancelled.[11] Judge Rossi ruled that Karamo was properly removed as MIGOP chair.[12]
16 at-large delegates are allocated based on the results of the February 27 primary to candidates who receive at least 12.5% of the statewide vote.
39 district delegates are allocated based on the results of caucuses in each of the state's 13 congressional districts on March 2. Each of the state's thirteencongressional districts are awarded three delegates. The candidate who wins the majority of the vote in a caucus is awarded all that district's delegates; otherwise, the candidate with the highest vote total is awarded two delegates and the candidate with the second-highest vote total is awarded one delegate.
In February 2023, GovernorGretchen Whitmer signed legislation to move up the date of both the Democratic and Republican presidential primaries in Michigan to February 27, 2024, in line with theDemocratic National Committee's (DNC) state reorganization plan.[13]
The date violated Republican Party Rule 16(c)(1), which prohibits any state/territory except Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina, from holding their primary/caucus until March 1, 2024, violating any other state/territory by stripping 80% of its delegates at theRepublican National Convention.
In response, in June 2023, theMichigan Republican Party (MIGOP) passed a resolution of intent that would allocate 16 delegates based on the results of the February 27 primary and 39 delegates based on the results of caucuses in each of the state's 13 congressional districts on March 2.[14]
The convention held by the faction of the Michigan Republican Party recognized by theRepublican National Committee led byPete Hoekstra will be inGrand Rapids at theAmway Grand Plaza Hotel on March 2,[15] while the faction of the Michigan Republican Party led byKristina Karamo will hold their convention inDetroit atHuntington Place on the same day.[16] While media is invited to the Karamo caucus, it will be closed to the public.[17] The RNC has indicated that only the delegates from the Hoekstra-led convention will be seated for the2024 Republican National Convention.[18] A court ruling by Judge Joseph Rossi on February 27 indicated that Karamo was properly removed as MIGOP chair[19] and barred Karamo from conducting business on behalf of the "Michigan Republican State Committee or the Michigan Republican Party".[20] Rossi made his ruling retroactive to January 6.[21] A full trial regarding control of the MIGOP is scheduled to take place on June 10.[22] The Michigan Court of Appeals denied a request on February 29 by Karamo to issue a stay on the court order while her appeal is under consideration, putting her Detroit caucus in doubt.[23] The chaos affected delegates fromMichigan's 1st congressional district who had planned to go to Detroit but were barred credentials to take part in the Grand Rapids convention; a third gathering is planned the same day inHoughton Lake.[24] A contingent fromMichigan's 4th congressional district was also denied credentials for the Grand Rapids caucuses, so a fourth gathering was announced for the same day inBattle Creek.[25] The Detroit gathering was cancelled.[26]
The Michigan Secretary of State has identified the following candidates, listed alphabetically, as potential Republican Party presidential candidates in 2024:[27]
County results
Congressional district results
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