Michigan GOP pushes to replace member who voted to certify election results

The Michigan GOP is pushing to replace a member of the Board of State Canvassers who voted to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the state.

According to a letter obtained by The Detroit News, the party is nominating well-known activists to replace Aaron Van Langevelde, whose term ends Jan. 31.

Among the choices is Linda Lee Tarver, who was involved in a lawsuit seeking to overturn Biden’s win in the key battleground state. Also under consideration is Tony Daunt, director of the Michigan Freedom Fund, and political strategist Tori Sachs.

The newspaper notes that Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) has until Wednesday to pick one of the replacements for the position.

Van Langevelde, the Republican vice chairman of the four-member board, joined the two Democratic members to certify Biden’s victory. The board voted 3-0 to certify, and the other GOP member of the board abstained.

Speaking about his decision, Van Langevelde told The Detroit News “My conscience is clear, and I am confident that my decision is on the right side of the law and history.”

“Time will tell that those who spread misinformation and tried to overturn the election were wrong, and they should be held responsible for the chaos and confusion they have caused.”

The Michigan Republican Party didn’t immediately return a request for comment for this story.

Michigan was one of the handful of swing states that President Trump and his GOP allies had its eyes on as the president refused to accept his election defeat to Biden.

Biden won 50.6 percent of the vote in Michigan, according to The Washington Post, compared to Trump’s 47.8 percent.