Tudor Dixon, the Republicans' gubernatorial nominee this past cycle, and 2010 gubernatorial candidate Pete Hoekstra both are taking a look at a run, as well.
"We have seen fingers being pointed by just about everyone within the party; and although we are all frustrated by the outcome of the election, pointing fingers does not turn back time and will not fix our problems," DePerno said.
Michigan Republican Party Chair Ron Weiser made it clear last year that he would not seek another term after three non-consecutive terms as chair.
"We’re going to have an internal discussion and there will be a new chairman come February," said MRP spokesperson Gus Portella.
GOP county conventions are scheduled for Jan. 26 and the state party convention is expected Feb. 17 and 18.
"The race has yet to materialize, and the chairman is focused on his job," Portella said.
He said that job is to make sure the election for the new chair is fair, and there is a peaceful transition of power within the party.
Along with Dixon and DePerno announcing possible runs, other names have been bandied about, such as Tuscola County GOP Chair Billy Putnam, former Macomb County GOP Chair Mark Forton and the current co-chair Meshawn Maddock.
"Yeah, I do want to be party chair," former Rep. Pete Hoekstra said. "That doesn’t mean I will run."
James CRAIG also floated a possible bid for the soul of the GOP, but the Detroit Free Press reported he won't be running.
He also said Dixon and DePerno should not be running.
"It’s not much of a criticism, as it is, it's just like a professional sports team. If you're not doing well and the players are not performing, it's time to make a different assessment," Craig told the Detroit Free Press.
Tyson Shepard, a spokesperson for DePerno, said "grassroots, America First" was the future of the Michigan Republican Party and the energy tapped by that section of the party was needed moving forward to ensure wins.
He said DePerno outperformed other state Republicans last week as someone who carried that message.
Shepard said it was a failure of the state establishment to back America First candidates like DePerno, which lead to its downfall. DePerno said he wanted to make sure that didn't happen again.
"We need to reestablish Michigan's donor class. We need to find folks who share the same level of frustrations as Republicans across the state right now," Shepard said.
Scott McGraw, chair of the 6th District Republican Party, said he was glad to see Dixon and DePerno throw their hat in the ring for the leadership seat.
"We need to reorganize and come out guns blazing," McGraw said.
He said he believes the chair of the party is the chief fundraiser and the question comes down to who could raise the most money.
He said the grassroots method is expensive, because chasing down $20 at a time adds up, but can be just as powerful as grabbing the big donor, like the DeVos family.
"Your guess is as good as mine as to who could raise the most money," he said.
Dixon, who was backed by the DeVos family in the midterms, said she was getting encouragement to run after an election memo was released pointing blame for the losses her way.
McGraw put the blame for the loss on redistricting and the abortion proposal bringing out the young crowds.
"We must have a unified party that focuses on winning votes and elections," Dixon said. "In the post-COVID, Prop 2 era, our party must be competitive, and it has not been for a variety of reasons."
Dixon did not define the reasons.
Hoekstra talked with MIRS and said his name in the ring is "exploratory" after talking with John YOB. He said, however, that is wife is on board.
"I would never do it without her blessing," he said.
One of the shadows looming large over the election is the possibility of former President Donald TRUMP thumbing the scale of the state party election.
Dixon and DePerno were both backed by Trump during the midterms and Hoekstra was appointed ambassador to the Netherlands by the former president.
"Remember, I was one of the first to endorse Donald Trump when nobody else was interested," Hoekstra said.
He said he would be at Mar-a-Largo on Thursday and Friday for an America First event. He will also be appearing with Tim SKUBICK on Off The Record later in November.
"It’s going to be interesting," McGraw said.
