Breaking: Ronna Removes Wendy Day From MIGOP Over Refusal To Back Trump

By-Brandon Hall
(Email West MIPolitics@Gmail.com)

Sources tell WMP Michigan Republican Party Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel has removed Wendy Day from her position as MIGOP Grassroots Vice Chair after Day refused to back Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump, subsequently appearing on TV to bash him.

Matt Hall, the State Committee member who requested Day's removal, praised the move.

"I applaud Chairwoman McDaniel for her strong principled leadership," Hall said in a statement to WMP. "She has proven yet again her dedication to electing the entire Republican ticket including Donald J. Trump. Her action reinforces the Michigan Republican Party's respect for its voters, and builds more trust and confidence from the electorate behind the Michigan Republican Party and its candidates."

Romney, center, with CJ Galdes, Scott Hagerstrom, Lena Epstein, Jacob Daniels, Joseph Guzman, Pete Hoekstra, and Terry Bowman of the Trump campaign

Here is Ronna's statement:

"Michigan Republicans share many different opinions and viewpoints and we encourage a robust dialogue. There are only 12 positions within the Party that require the office holders to support the nominees chosen by the voters. Officers are held to a different standard because “Michigan Republican Party” is part of their title, and when they speak, they are reflecting the party as a whole. We are a Party governed by rules and bylaws, and supporting the nominees is part of the duty of every officer of the Party. Each individual elected to serve in an officer role was very clear on the obligations and duties of their position.

The Michigan Republican Party has 12 officer positions. These do not include the National Committeeman and Committeewoman positions. The obligation of these officers is to support the nominees up and down the ballot, as chosen by the voters, and work to elect the entire ticket. If, at any time, an officer is unable to support the entire ticket, they have the ability to resign from their position or remain silent while working for the other nominees.

Recently, our Grassroots Vice Chair appeared on a political talk show using her title and disparaging our Presidential nominee. In this instance, her appearance on the show gives the impression that the party does not support our nominee. Her position within the Party was part of what gave her credibility for the media interview. We also have many grassroots knocking doors and volunteering across the state whose efforts were diminished by our Grassroots Chair's actions.

Over the weekend, the interview was brought to my attention, and I asked our Grassroots Vice Chair to either declare support for the nominee, or do as her conscience dictates and resign from a position she knew required support for our ticket. In her recent response, she shared that she is unable to support our nominee and will not resign.

Upon seeking advice from our legal counsel, and recognizing that our Grassroots Vice Chair is unable to fulfill the duties of her office, I am declaring the position of Grassroots Vice Chair vacant.

This has been one of the more difficult decisions I have made as Chair. Wendy is my friend. I want to thank Wendy for her service and leadership to our party and know that she will continue to be a strong leader in the Republican Party. In coming to this decision, I applied the rule as if the nominee were Mitt Romney, John McCain, Rick Snyder, or any other Republican Party nominee.

Our Party is governed by rules and bylaws, and our elected officers have a duty to abide by them. The public nature of appearing on television, using the MRP title, and denouncing our nominee undercuts the mission of the Party and the efforts of those who are working to elect Donald Trump and every Republican across the state.

Thank you for your continued efforts to turn Michigan red on November 8th.

Best,
Ronna

Ronna Romney McDaniel
Chairman
Michigan Republican Party"

According to the Detroit News:

A Michigan Republican Party official likely will be forced from her post after refusing to back GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump and declining to resign, a spokeswoman said Monday...

Day’s refusal to resign now leaves the decision up to Romney McDaniel, who told central committee members on Sunday that she was awaiting Day’s letter before making any decision.

“I believe we will have to remove her,” said Michigan GOP spokeswoman Sarah Anderson, who had not yet seen Day’s letter but cited bylaws. The party has 12 elected officials, Anderson explained, and the grassroots chair is responsible for get-out-the-vote efforts.

“If you’re not supporting our candidate, you really are incapable of doing your job,” Anderson said."

According to the Detroit Free Press:

"McDaniel sent a weekend e-mail to state committee members alerting them to the fact Day was facing removal, after receiving a complaint about Day from Matt Hall, a state committee member from western Michigan.

"Our bylaws dictate that if an elected officer of the party is not supporting our ticket, they be removed," Anderson said Monday.

That's especially important for a grassroots leader, and Day has compounded matters by speaking out against Trump in media interviews, she said.

"If somebody was very opposed to french fries and hated french fries, they can't take a job at McDonald's and refuse to sell french fries," Anderson said."

__________________________________________________________________
Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

>>>Email him at WestMiPolitics@Gmail.com

Facebook
Twitter

Photo By Darlene Dowling Thompson