DeVos-Backed Campaign Organization Gets Off The Ground

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 05/29/2025) A political organization designed to assist Republican candidates “up and down Michigan's ballot” launched Thursday with one of the Republicans' chief financial benefactors, multi-millionaire Dick DeVos, leading the broad governing advisory board.

The staff announced for the new Michigan Forward Network include former Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel as chief executive officer, and 2022 lieutenant governor nominee Shane Hernandez as president. Longtime Republican operative Sarah Anderson will be the Chief of Staff while Great Lakes Education Project (GLEP) leader Beth DeShone and Mike Banerian will serve in senior roles.

"Michigan is at a tipping point," DeVos said. "With one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, underperforming schools, and a shrinking population, the challenges facing Michigan are serious. I love my home state, and if you care about Michigan’s future, you cannot sit idly by and watch its decline. The Michigan Forward Network is committed to delivering the leadership and policies we need to turn things around."

From the outside looking in, the outfit looks to be operating like a shadow Michigan Republican Party (MRP), a tight group of trusted DeVos hands designed to raise and spend money for Republican causes, but without having to deal with the headaches of internal party politics.

A group of this sort was rumored to be in the works last year when Kristina Karamo took over as chair with the backing of conspiratorial-tinged grassroots supporters, who repelled the traditional donors. This year, Sen. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) was elected chair without the support of the donor class. The Michigan Forward Network's evaluation is a sign that the MRP's role as being the clearinghouse of Republican campaign operations has diminished to leading necessary political functions and advancing some party messaging.

“I am excited to work with this team to advance our shared values of prosperity, safety, and individual freedom,” said McDaniel, a former MRP chair known nationally for her ability to raise money. "President Trump’s historic victory last year showed that Michiganders are sick of extreme policies that have made our communities unsafe, our schools fail, and our state too expensive to raise a family. This team is hitting the ground running to build on the political success of 2024 and get our state back on track.”

The group is announcing that several businesses have already stepped up to support the Michigan Forward Network's mission.

"As President Trump works to make America great again, Michigan Forward will work to make Michigan great again," said David Fischer, a former U.S. Ambassador under President Trump. "My family has done business in Michigan for nearly 80 years—we’ve seen the good times and the tough ones. Right now, we’re at a pivotal crossroads. Our future depends on principled leadership that prioritizes economic growth, supports local businesses, and creates opportunities for hardworking families."

Thursday’s press release also mentions John Kennedy, chair of the West Michigan Policy Forum, as a benefactor.