Trump endorses 2 Michigan Republicans for 2022

Former President Donald Trump, who appears to be prepping to run in 2024, was busy this week with politics in Michigan, which is expected to again be a battleground state.

Trump endorsed two Michigan Republicans for 2022: State Rep. Steve Carra (R-Three Rivers) and Kristina Karamo, who have both aligned themselves with Trump’s base and questioned the 2020 election results without evidence.

The election was not close, with now-President Joe Biden defeating Trump by more than 7 million votes and winning the Electoral College 306-232. In Michigan, Biden beat Trump by 154,000 votes.

Carra is challenging U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) in the ’22 GOP primary for the 6th Congressional District in Southwest Michigan. Upton, the dean of Michigan’s congressional delegation, voted to impeach Trump in January for inciting the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection to overturn the 2020 election, angering many GOP activists.

Carra attended a Lansing event on Jan. 6 protesting Trump’s loss and has introduced HB 5091 calling for a so-called “audit” of the 2020 election, following Trump supporters conducting one in Arizona. In Michigan, there have been more than 250 state and local audits that have not shown widespread problems or election fraud.

Trump has called Michigan GOP Chair Ron Weiser about a so-called audit, according to Co-Chair Meshawn Maddock.

“It is my great honor to endorse Michigan State Representative Steve Carra to oppose RINO Congressman Fred Upton. Upton has not done the job that our Country needs, for years has talked about leaving office and not running again, and he voted for Impeachment of the President of the United States on rigged up charges,” Trump said, referring to himself in third person in a Tuesday statement. “He doesn’t deserve to keep his seat. … Steve Carra has my Complete and Total Endorsement!”

Karamo is running for secretary of state, hoping to challenge Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in 2022. Karamo is from Oak Park and says she is precinct delegate, Michigan GOP state committeewoman, member of Michigan’s 14th District Republican Executive Committee.

She gained national attention as a poll watcher in 2020, testifying before a state Senate panel about unproven claims regarding Wayne County election practices. Karamo also went to Arizona for the so-called audit. And she was at a June rally in Antrim County along with MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and GOP former state Sen. Pat Colbeck, who have continued to spread conspiracy theories about the 2020 election.

“Highly respected Kristina Karamo has my Complete and Total Endorsement to run for Secretary of State of the Great State of Michigan!” Trump said Tuesday. “… Kristina will fight for you like no other.”

Trump wished Karamo “Good luck” and again lied about the 2020 election, saying, “while you’re at it, check out the Fake Election results that took place in the city of Detroit.”

There is no GOP primary; instead, Republicans will choose a nominee at a scheduled April convention, which is expected to bolster Trump-endorsed candidates.

There is one other GOP candidate who has former a committee, Plainfield Township Clerk Cathleen Postmus. Other Republicans who have been mentioned for the post are state Rep. Ann Bollin (R-Brighton), Rep. Julie Calley (R-Porland) and Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumus Lyons.

Trump has issued several statements about Michigan Republicans this year, twice targeting state Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake) and Sen. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan) after a Senate Oversight Committee report confirmed there was no widespread election fraud in the 2020 election in Michigan.

“Michigan’s Republican State Legislators should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this horrible situation to happen. In particular, the incompetent RINO Majority Leader, Mike Shirkey, and Senator Ed McBroom. Maybe McBroom is really a Democrat who could not otherwise get elected in Northern Michigan,” Trump said in August.