MATT DEPERNO

Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Matt DePerno, who lost a bid to unseat Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel in November, to be the next state Republican Party chair. Perhaps most importantly, Matt knows that his number one job is uniting the party!” Trump wrote. The chair race will be decided during the Republican state convention scheduled for Feb. 17-18 in Lansing. After the Nov. 8 election, DePerno cited a lack of support from the party as a motivation to run for state Republican Party chair. In addition to the attorney general race, Democrats defeated the Republican candidates for governor and secretary of state.

Michigan and the conspiracy theories birthed in the state are played a major role in a 845-page report from the U.S. House Committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Transcripts from a number of key Michigan figures who were either voluntarily interviewed or subpoenaed by the committee have yet to be released. “‘This is absolute proof the Dominion machines were rigged,’” Barr said Trump told him. Yet even as Trump fixated on the Antrim report, Christina Bobb, a conservative news commentator who became a Trump campaign attorney after the election, told investigators the campaign’s legal team stopped investigating the county. “My recollection is that it was a Michigan legislative hearing or some kind of group in Michigan connected to the legislature that was having a hearing about fraud claims in Michigan,” Barr said.

The Republicans who lost their races for Michigan’s top three statewide offices after promoting falsehoods about the 2020 presidential election are not planning to go quietly.

Former ambassador and Republican congressman Pete Hoekstra went on local public television before Thanksgiving to announce he’s, well, considering throwing his hat into the ring to next lead the Michigan Republican Party. “No one benefits from a divided party,” Hoekstra said. DePerno is also a Trump favorite and Hoekstra said Trump should remain neutral in the leadership contest. A memo published days after the midterm election from the Michigan Republican Party blamed the top candidates and their ties to Trump for the party’s losses in the election. We weren’t talking about energy in this last cycle; we weren’t talking about the border crisis; we weren’t talking about the economic climate in the state of Michigan,” Hoekstra said in an interview.

Carra, however, was the only one to earn the endorsement while attempting to primary outgoing-U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph. Carra, at the time, was not living in Upton’s district though Huizenga was, setting up a natural contest between the two congressional Republicans. Another candidate – Jon Rocha, who ran in Michigan’s 87th House district – was disqualified from the ballot prior to the primary. He added that Trump also has a history of backing candidates only after they appear to be on the winning side of their contests, and that these state House and Senate candidates are no exception. It’s how do you put together enough of a coalition that you get more than 50% of the vote?

More ballots were cast for Democrats than Republicans in Benzie and Grand Traverse counties in both the Michigan governor and secretary of state races. Incumbent Democrat Attorney General Dana Nessel beat GOP challenger Matt DePerno in Grand Traverse County, and they tied at 5,162 votes each in Benzie County. In 2020, former President Donald Trump beat Joe Biden in Grand Traverse County by 1,819 votes with 60,668 ballots cast. Coffia beat O’Malley in Grand Traverse County 19,208 to 18,126, and by a slimmer, 38-vote margin in Leelanau County (7,565-7,527). Voters solidly approved the measure in both Benzie and Grand Traverse counties, too.

Incumbent Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has defeated Republican opponent Matt DePerno, securing a second term in office, the AP projects.

Matt DePerno, a Republican challenger, has conceded to Dana Nessel in the race for Michigan Attorney General. With 85% of the vote counted as of 9:15 a.m., Nessel leads by 7 percentage points and nearly 300,000 votes. “Although I may be conceding to Dana Nessel today, I refuse to concede that Michigan is a blue state. Nessel, the current Democratic attorney general, and DePerno were locked in a tight race heading into the Nov. 8 election. “Damn it feels good to be a Michigander,” Whitmer tweeted Wednesday morning.

Michigan's midterm election is on Tuesday, Nov. 8, and among the races at stake are for governor, secretary of state and attorney general.

A special prosecutor assigned to investigate allegations of people illegally examining voting machines -- including attorney general candidate Matt DePerno -- said he will not finish the work before the Nov. 8 election. Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson, in a statement released Friday, Nov. 4, said that “obtaining a complete picture of the facts and circumstances of the investigation is essential prior to determining the next step in this process.”Hilson said the investigation has complexities. According to the allegations, tabulators were broken into for examination purposes. More from MLiveSome Michigan hospitals limit child visitors due to spike in respiratory viral illnessPence, stumping for Barrett: Slotkin has ‘weakened America at home and abroad’

The attorney general’s race is the closest on the ballot this November with unique circumstances as it puts incumbent Dana Nessel up against Republican Matt DePerno, a lawyer from the west side of the state.

If you haven’t already voted, your turn to do so comes around in just a few days. I’m wondering if you’re ready.

The race for Michigan attorney general is as close as it can get, while the incumbent Michigan secretary of state continues to hold a lead in her race, according to a new WDIV/Detroit News poll.

Here’s where you can find general election results for the Michigan Attorney General race between Dana Nessel and Matt DePerno on Nov. 8, 2022.

A lengthy document filled with the standard diatribes reaches a new level with his inclusion of ludicrous "fraud evidence."

This past week and moving forward, MLive has been publishing interviews with the candidates vying to lead Michigan. - Republican Tudor Dixon, meanwhile, details how she believes Michigan needs to get back on track. It begins with education, she told me, and extends to cracking down on crime and slashing regulations. My colleague Ben Orner is also out with profiles of the major-party attorney general candidates, who came out swinging in their respective interviews. “I do not want to have our adversaries buying property here in the state of Michigan,” Dixon said on Friday.

Michigan Democratic incumbents for two major statewide offices have growing leads over their Republican opponents, according to a new WDIV/Detroit News poll.

State Republican Reps. Matt Maddock of Milford and Steve Carra of Three Rivers were also in attendance. Trump painted a portrait of a nation on the precipice of economic ruin and cultural desecration at the hands of Democrats. A Republican-led state Senate report also found “no evidence of widespread or systematic fraud.” Biden won Michigan by more than 154,000 votes. “Gretchen Whitmer is out there saying that I’m going to be able to do something about that issue in this state,” Dixon said at the rally. Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon and Donald Trump Jr. speak to the press after a campaign event in Muskegon on Sept. 23, 2022.

He’s not opposed to contraceptives in any way, because, he said, Plan B is not a contraceptive. “Life begins at conception, and is the plan B pill being used at that time as a contraceptive or is it being used to terminate a pregnancy?” DePerno said. “You know, that’s how the people opposed to Plan B market it that way but it’s really not. In the recording, DePerno is first heard asking what Plan B is before acknowledging that “it’s an issue,” when the other man on tape asks if it could be banned. It cannot cause abortions.”If Plan B is used to prevent pregnancy, DePerno told MLive he has no issue.

Democratic incumbents for the offices of Michigan Attorney General and Michigan Secretary of State continue to hold leads against their Republican opponents, according to a new WDIV/Detroit News poll.

It’s appearing increasingly unlikely there’ll be a decision before the general election whether to charge Republican attorney general nominee Matt DePerno and eight others for their involvement in an alleged scheme to seize and tamper with vote tabulators. Cheri Bruinsma, the executive director of the Prosecuting Attorneys Coordinating Council, said a special prosecutor hasn’t yet been chosen by PACC staff and offered no timeline for when one might be chosen. Attorney General Dana Nessel had made a formal request to the body Aug. 5 for a special prosecutor to review finding from state investigators.

The Michigan Republican Party has devolved into conspiracies

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Among those named in the request are Republican Attorney General candidate Matt DePerno and Rep. Daire Rendon, R-Lake City. Nessel requested a special prosecutor because she and DePerno are expected to face off in November’s general election for Michigan’ top chief law enforcement job. She has petitioned the Prosecuting Attorneys Coordinating Council for a special prosecutor to be appointed in the case, as first reported by the Detroit News. Appointing an alternative special assistant attorney general – or special prosecutor – is one way the attorney general could manage these conflicts, he added. Others named in the probe have stayed quiet since the special prosecutor request was made public.

Rep. Daire Rendon will still remain chair of the House Insurance Committee, as well as keep her other committee assignments, while an investigation into whether she allegedly was a part of a team that allegedly stole and illegally analyzed voting machines last year. In addition to chairing the insurance panel, Rendon, R-Lake City, also sits on the House Families, Children and Seniors Committee, the House Judiciary Committee and the House Agriculture Committee. “The speaker will let the legal process play out and review any new developments as the information comes out,” said Gideon D’Assandro, spokesperson for House Speaker Jason Wentworth, R-Farwell. More from MLiveSee monkeypox hot spots in Michigan, U.S., world‘2000 Mules’ fact check: Michigan experts debunk election fraud claimsGov. Gretchen Whitmer tests positive for COVID-19, symptoms mildCapped drug costs, billons for clean energy: Inflation Reduction Act a ‘big deal for Michigan’

The Michigan Attorney General's office is asking that a special prosecutor investigate whether the Republican candidate for state attorney general and others should be charged in connection with an effort to gain access to voting machines...

Published reports say the Michigan Attorney General’s office is asking that a special prosecutor investigate whether the Republican candidate for state attorney general and others should be charged in connection with an effort to gain access to voting machines after the 2020 election.

Dana Nessel may face one of the people she wants investigated in the election this fall.

A little more than 12 hours after Tudor Dixon declared victory in the Republican gubernatorial primary Tuesday, a who’s who of the Michigan Republican party gathered in Lansing for a “unity luncheon.”It was a pointed gesture. Coming off a fractious gubernatorial primary, the party is looking to present a single front going into its state convention in late August. Dixon was there, long with the presumptive nominees for attorney general and secretary of state, Matt DePerno and Kristina Karamo. “I mean, we are the Republican party. We’re all in one lane all the time, and that’s fighting Democrats.”Read More:Tudor Dixon walks the tightrope in gubernatorial bidFormer president Donald Trump endorses Tudor Dixon for governorFor Tudor Dixon, the path to victory for Michigan governor could rest on public opinion and big spendingTudor Dixon wins Michigan’s Republican gubernatorial primary, AP projects

Matt DePerno is the Michigan Republican Party’s presumptive nominee for attorney general because of election fraud. In the process he became the most prominent figure in Michigan election denial circles and launched his political career. A May poll conducted by Glengariff Group asked Michiganders if they’d support overturning the 2020 election. At the same time, candidates in contested primaries, especially the gubernatorial election, can’t afford to walk away from the topic. Belief in widespread election fraud is also important for any candidate seeking Trump’s endorsement.

Most voters said they dislike Trump and oppose a ban on abortions

In response to a leak of draft on the SCOTUS decision on ‘Roe v. Wade,’ Gov. Whitmer says she’ll ‘keep fighting like hell’ to ensure abortion remains safe and accessible

But the Republicans who did not get the party nod at the Michigan Republican Party endorsement convention held Saturday, April 23, think it will take a “tsunami” for Matt DePerno and Kristina Karamo to win. There will be another convention in August, and any pick from April’s endorsement convention can be overturned with a 75% vote. In addition to the upcoming August convention, Republicans created an April endorsement convention – mimicking a move by the Democratic Party – in hopes of uniting the party earlier in the election season. Nessel is not as vulnerable as many Republicans think, Berman said, so it will take a candidate who can win the middle to beat her. Berry laments the division in the Republican Party, reciting quotes from Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan on being united.

Now, the Republican candidates running for governor in Michigan want Trump’s blessing. Voters will narrow the field to a single Republican candidate for governor during the Aug. 2 primary election. But I can’t see into Trump’s mind … If you are able to read President Trump’s mind, I think you should get paid an extra bonus. But the reality of life is, I go by what I think is right for the state.”Tudor Dixon: “Yes, (I’m seeking Trump’s endorsement). I hear you’re doing well, too.”Others think Johnson is on the fast track to Trump’s endorsement – including Markey, one of the other candidates.

Trump called Leonard a gutless “RINO” who’s “not going to do a damn thing.” Trump flew to Michigan to campaign for Leonard’s top opponent, Matt DePerno. DePerno won Saturday’s Michigan Republican endorsement convention with 54% of the vote. RELATED: Matt DePerno – Trump’s pick – wins Republican endorsement for Michigan attorney generalRELATED: Kristina Karamo lands GOP Secretary of State endorsement to face Jocelyn Benson in NovemberThe state party’s endorsements are a win from Trump. But the former president’s power and influence over the GOP is perhaps most evident by how Leonard pitched himself to Michigan Republicans on Saturday. His video pitch was mostly a highlight video from a Trump rally — talking up DePerno and calling Leonard names.

Karamo, DePerno are both 2020 election deniers

Matt DePerno has earned the endorsement of the Michigan Republican Party to take on incumbent Democrat Dana Nessel in November. DePerno beat Tom Leonard in the second round of voting with 54% of the vote. President Donald Trump endorsed DePerno, going as far as hosting a rally for him in Michigan earlier this spring. Voting was halted during the second round of voting for a discrepancy in the ballot process. Michigan Republicans are doing an endorsement convention this year for the first time.

The Republican candidates for Michigan attorney general agree on almost everything. Berman, DePerno and Leonard are vying for the Republican endorsement at the statewide convention Saturday, April 23. Matthew DePerno, Republican candidate for Michigan Attorney General, speaks to several hundred demonstrators at a rally Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021 outside Michigan's Capitol in Lansing, demanding an additional investigation into 2020 election results. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake MayDePerno has built his candidacy on election fraud and the Trump endorsement. Berman’s nuanced stance on election fraud allowed DePerno to differentiate himself.

The lawsuit was filed by Republican attorney general candidate Matt DePerno, a conspiracy theorist endorsed by Trump

Michigan Republicans are itching to vote Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson out of office. But, per state law, the general public won’t get a say in which potential Republican candidates will challenge them. Ryan Berman, Matt DePerno and Tom Leonard are the three Republican candidates for AG. For example, voters will choose in August which of the 10 Republicans running for governor will face Gov. Democrats hosted their endorsement convention earlier this month, supporting Nessel and Benson.

Party ousts chair amid turmoil, delegates chosen for April 23 state convention

Michigan Republican Party co-chair Ron Weiser said Wednesday, in an interview with MLive, that he told Republican attorney general candidate Tom Leonard to expect a “very difficult convention” when state Republicans meet later this month. When asked whether he told Leonard to drop out of the attorney general race, Weiser denied the accusation. Statewide officials including secretary of state, attorney general, Michigan Supreme Court justices and university board members are determined at conventions. The Michigan Republican Party convention is set to be held in Grand Rapids Saturday, April 23. The agreement “acts as a complete bar to any criminal action related to this behavior,” the attorney general wrote.

Monday’s event was the second public campaign stop Johnson held since announcing his candidacy in January. He’s scheduled to visit former President Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago resort Tuesday for a fundraiser on behalf of Republican attorney general candidate Matt DePerno. Michigan Republican Party Co-Chair Meshawn Maddock was in the audience Monday. Maddock’s daughter is a staff member of Johnson’s campaign. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.comTrump has yet to nominate a gubernatorial candidate, but his blessing is expected to crown a frontrunner in the crowded race.

The former president and some candidates he has endorsed are warring with Republican officials and donors, who prefer winning candidates over those most interested in Trump's grievance campaigns. Polls show ebbing popularity.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has the edge vs. Republican challengers in the race for the seat this year, according to a new WDIV/Detroit News poll.

Nancy Williams also faces multiple charges for allegedly trying to submit 26 fraudulent absentee ballot applications to multiple clerks in Southeast Michigan. Karen Rotondo was sentenced to three months probation after pleading guilty to forging her daughter’s signature on an absentee ballot application. Carless Clark was charged with two felonies for allegedly mailing her grandson’s absentee ballot even though he decided to vote in person. A review of the absentee ballot found the signatures did not match and clerks found that the grandson voted on election day. “We have so many levels of review in our state that is very, very difficult for a person to ever get away with voter fraud,” Nessel said.