Former Michigan Republican Party Co-Chair Meshawn Maddock, currently facing felony forgery and conspiracy charges, is making a strong push to become the next leader of the Michigan GOP. She emerged as the clear favorite in a straw poll held on Saturday during a GOP forum in Southwest Michigan’s Berrien County, where four candidates were competing to replace former Ambassador Pete Hoekstra as the party chair.
The poll, which was conducted among 60 participants, showed Maddock with an overwhelming 66.7% support. State Sen. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) came in second place with 23.3%, followed by Republican consultant Scott Greenlee with 8.3%. Joe Cella, former ambassador to Fiji during the first Trump administration, received just 1.7% of the vote.
Maddock, who is married to state Rep. Matt Maddock (R-Milford), has long been an ally of former President Donald Trump. Her close connection to Trump, who won Michigan again in 2024, has given Michigan Republicans hope that she could help them retake key offices in the state during the 2026 election.
During her speech at the forum, Maddock expressed confidence in her leadership abilities, emphasizing that she has faced the most criticism from the media and her opponents. She also made strong remarks about the state’s Democratic leadership, calling them “communists” and claiming that as a woman, she was uniquely qualified to take on what she referred to as the “three witches ruling our state.” These witches, according to Maddock, were Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel, and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, all Democrats.
Too bad all the snowflakes in the mainstream media see misogyny where it doesn't exist. Calling someone a witch is NOT misogynist. This is more of the same from the left – instantly label everything as "misogyny" or "racist." This hurts real efforts to become a more just society.
— meshawn maddock (@MeshawnMaddock) March 26, 2021
Maddock’s controversial remarks seemed to reference comments made by her former running mate, former Michigan GOP Chair Ron Weiser, who used similar language in 2021 to describe the three Democratic leaders.
During a meeting of the North Oakland Republican Club, Weiser said, “Our job now is to soften up those three witches and make sure that when we have good candidates to run against them, that they are ready for the burning at the stake.” His comments were widely criticized, but Maddock defended him at the time.
Maddock is one of 15 people charged by Nessel’s office in connection with the 2020 fake electors case. She, along with others, is accused of attempting to submit false electoral votes for Trump to the U.S. Senate and the National Archives. This case is still ongoing in court, and Maddock’s involvement has attracted considerable attention.
While Maddock’s rhetoric and ties to Trump have made her a prominent figure in Michigan politics, her controversial comments about the state’s Democratic leaders and her ongoing legal battles have also sparked significant debate within the party. Still, her strong support among GOP voters in the straw poll suggests she has the backing of a large portion of the Michigan Republican base.
In the coming months, Maddock will continue to campaign for the Michigan GOP chair position, and her candidacy will likely remain a point of discussion as the party looks ahead to the 2026 election.
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