DETROIT (AP) 鈥 The ousted former leader of the Michigan Republican Party lost a key court ruling Thursday in her effort to regain the top post.
The Michigan Court of Appeals said it won't suspend a by party members.
Karamo was hoping that a stay would clear the way for her to lead a meeting Saturday in Detroit to select presidential delegates for the party鈥檚 national convention.
Former U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, with and former President Donald Trump, is recognized as the new chair of the state Republican Party. He is scheduled to lead a similar meeting across the state in Grand Rapids.
Karamo has refused to concede that party members properly voted her out of office. But a Kent County judge on Tuesday said the Jan. 6 vote was valid and any actions by her since that date were 鈥渧oid and have no effect.鈥
鈥淭he order has injected more chaos into the political process,鈥 Karamo鈥檚 lawyers told the appeals court. 鈥淭he order will require a complete change of party administration, as well as cancellation or attempted cancellations of leases, contracts and other legal obligations, leaving the (party) in further disarray.鈥
Hoekstra, however, said he is seen as the 鈥渄uly elected chair of the Michigan party.鈥
鈥淚t鈥檚 time to put this behind us and move forward with the business of electing Republicans in November,鈥 he said Thursday.
this week over Nikki Haley.
Karamo was voted out of leadership after months of internal fighting over finances and strategy. She was a Trump supporter and unsuccessful Republican candidate for secretary of state when
鈥淭his is an intra-party dispute that should be resolved through the political process 鈥 not court intervention,鈥 Karamo鈥檚 lawyers said.
