(Source: MIRS.news, Published 08/19/2024) The embattled Kalamazoo County Republican Party is being ordered to redo its convention this Wednesday with the Michigan Republican Party (MRP) overseeing the affair after the latest flare up between two warring factions.  

The MRP’s Credentials Committee voted Monday that the new Kalamazoo County Republican convention will take place over Zoom on Wednesday night after more than 40 elected precinct delegates claimed they were blocked from voting last week for state convention delegates.  

State committee member Kim Harris told MIRS that at least 46 elected Republican precinct delegates who should have been able to vote were told they could only attend the convention with a guest pass for numerous reasons.  

Some were told they weren’t a Kalamazoo County GOP member in good standing. Some were under the impression they had to pay dues. Others, like Robyn Maxon, were given no reason, other than she supported former MRP Chair Kristina Karamo and was part of a lawsuit against the current county party leaders, Maxon said. 

They claim the real reason they were denied voting rights was because they weren't with the majority. 

“Now we’re in a Banana Republic,” said Sabrina Pritchett-Evans, a precinct delegate. “They’re basically crafting rules on the fly to keep themselves in power.”  

Pritchett-Evans led an unsuccessful takeover of the Kalamazoo County Republican Party a few years ago.  

While Kalamazoo County Republican Party Chair Kelly Sackett declined to speak about the incident, MIRS has learned the tensions go back some time when the Sackett wing of the party tried to prevent the “Christian Nationalists” led by Karamo, Pritchett-Evans and others from taking over the party.  

No side has clean hands in the struggle that ensued, but the current MRP has recognized the Sackett wing of the party as being the official one.  

However, the MRP Credentials Committee was told on Monday that only official members of the Kalamazoo County Republican Party were allowed to vote in Thursday’s convention. The county party’s website lists that an individual membership is $40.  

Credentials Committee Member Norm Shinkle said that sniffed of a poll tax to him, which isn’t allowable.  

Those denied the chance to vote took out their frustration on a Rumble video, which was broadly circulated Monday. 

Those agitated about not getting to vote said they felt attorney Matt DePerno played an oversize role in the K-Zoo Republican Party proceedings, considering he's running for Michigan Supreme Court justice, a position state delegates will select this Saturday. 

DePerno declined to comment, and didn't give a reason for it.