DETROIT — Verbal clashes dominated the first two hours of a Republican convention Monday night in Macomb County, one of Michigan's largest, opening a period of 13 days that could redefine the state party's future.
Another battle was happening in Kent County over who would oversee the county convention. The fight resulted in a close vote between the county chairman and an ally of Kalamazoo lawyer Matthew DePerno, who vowed to "storm the conventions" in a bid to get delegates who would back his nomination for attorney general against former House Speaker Tom Leonard of DeWitt.
Across Michigan, GOP members gathered Monday for county meetings to choose delegates to send to the state convention in Grand Rapids on April 23, where nominees for attorney general, secretary of state and other offices will be officially endorsed.