GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A judge ruled Tuesday that Kristina Karamo's removal from her position as Michigan Republican Party Chair was legal.
Karamo was the target of a lawsuit by a portion of the Michigan Republican Party after she refused to step down when voted out of the position in January.
The lawsuit, filed about two weeks after the initial vote to oust Karamo, sought a preliminary injunction by the court to force Karamo to accept the results of the vote.
Karamo continued to claim she was still the Michigan Republican Party Chair even after the Republican National Convention intervened in February and declared the newly elected chair, Pete Hoekstra, as the legitimate head of the Michigan Republican Party.
On Tuesday, Judge Joseph J. Rossi of the 17th District Court ruled in favor of the Michigan Republican Party's preliminary injunction and affirmed that the removal of Karamo was legal.
Hoekstra said despite the tension over Michigan GOP, the Republican party must stay focused on winning in November.
"This is not about me, okay?" said Hoekstra. "It's not about Kristina. This is about winning in November. Those folks who want to join the Republican Party who want to help elect Donald Trump as president, help elect a Republican for the Senate, you know, fight for our congressional candidates fight for the State House. They are welcome to be a part of our efforts."
Hoekstra said he's focused on winning elections. Karamo has not made any public comment since the ruling, but did share a message on X shortly before the hearing started Tuesday about the case, calling it "not complex."
Hoekstra shared a statement shortly after the ruling:
“The MIGOP State Committee, the RNC, President Trump and now a court of law have all reviewed the January 6th meeting and there is unanimous agreement that the former Chair was properly removed, and I was elected as the new Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. It is time to unite and move forward with the business delivering the state of Michigan for our Party’s presumptive nominee, Donald J. Trump.”
The ruling comes just days before Republican Caucus Conventions are planned for Saturday, March 2.
Karamo was planning to host one while Hoekstra is to host another.
The results of the Michigan Republican Caucus will determine how 39 of the states delegates will be distributed to Nikki Haley and Donald Trump.
The Michigan Republican Primary on Feb. 27 will determine how 16 of the states delegates will be distributed to Nikki Haley and Donald Trump.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Watch 13 ON YOUR SIDE for free on Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV and on your phone.