In a recent interview, MIGOP Chair Jim Runestad describes a party that is nearly a million dollars in debt, has no cash on hand, and can barely keep their website updated

LANSING — In case you missed it, MIGOP Chair Jim Runestad did an interview where he outlined exactly how big of a mess their party is right now. From nearly $800,000 in debt to no one sending emails or updating the website, Runestad is trying to bail out water faster than it’s coming in — and it’s not working. Don’t take our word for it, Runestad himself said it best: “It’s a situation where I’ve been underwater and I come up for breath and then plunge down with endless issues too many to describe.”

No matter who the chair is, Karamo, Hoekstra, or Runestad, this party is still an extremist mess that can’t get its act together. With the MIGOP and state House Republicans wholeheartedly supporting Trump’s attempts to gut Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, it’s no wonder they aren’t seeing a rush of support from Michiganders. 

Let’s be clear, MAGA Matt Hall can peddle whatever misinformation he wants, and Runestad can fail at all of his various jobs — at the end of the day, the MIGOP is as disastrous and out of touch as ever, and that clearly isn’t changing anytime soon. 

See how Runestad himself describes the chaos of his own party: 

Michigan News Source: Interview with Michigan GOP Chair Shows a Party Scrambling to Get Its Act Together

• Facing financial challenges and internal restructuring, the Michigan Republican Party is heading into the 2026 election cycle with a packed agenda focused on rebuilding, rebranding, and regaining ground. However, their to-do list could look more like a survival plan than a winning strategy…
  
  
• Michigan GOP Chair Jim Runestad, who is also a Michigan Senator, painted a picture of a party struggling to reboot itself after years of financial mismanagement, organizational chaos, and resistance to early voting tactics…
  
  
• Runestad says people are wondering why he doesn’t return phone calls or show up at events and he said, “It’s a situation where I’ve been underwater and I come up for breath and then plunge down with endless issues too many to describe…
  
  
• It took about a month just to update the party’s website after his win, and the party still isn’t sending emails to supporters, voters, and donors. There also hasn’t been a post on their Facebook or X site since March…
  
  
• In the interview with Soldano, Runestad also admitted the MIGOP was basically in shambles when he stepped in. “I thought we owed about $300,000,” he said, “but it turned out to be more like $770,000 in debt.” And they only have $10,000 cash on hand.
  
  
• With just 573 days until Michigan’s high-stakes midterm election in November 2026, Democrats – under new chair Curtis Hertel Jr. – are already in overdrive, flooding inboxes with donation appeals and taking frequent shots at President Trump…