A Donald Trump ally, Matthew DePerno, who faces felony charges of illegally accessing and tampering with voting machines, is seeking the Republican nomination for the Michigan Supreme Court. Delegates will vote on nominees for two state Supreme Court seats in a battleground state where the court plays a crucial role in election matters. Michigan Supreme Court races are officially nonpartisan, but candidates are nominated at party conventions. DePerno, known for pushing false claims of election fraud, is seeking to win back majority control for Republicans on the court.
DePerno was named as a key figure in a case involving tampering with voting machines, where five vote tabulators were illegally taken and tested in a hotel room. He faces charges of undue possession of a voting machine and conspiracy, which could result in up to five years in prison. DePerno has denied any wrongdoing and believes the charges against him are politically motivated. His alleged involvement in the tampering case adds to a pattern of individuals breaching election systems while perpetuating the false narrative of a stolen election.
While DePerno faces legal challenges, he is actively campaigning for the Republican nomination for the Michigan Supreme Court. Despite a significant fundraising disadvantage compared to his Democratic opponent, DePerno is confident in his ability to secure support from delegates and potentially out-fundraise his rivals in the general election. Other Republican candidates, including Detroit attorney Alexandria Taylor and Circuit Court Judge Patrick O’Grady, have raised more funds than DePerno in the primary race.
The Democratic Party in Michigan is also gearing up for the state Supreme Court race, with candidates like Judge Mark Boonstra and state Rep. Andrew Fink competing for the seat vacated by Justice David Viviano. On the Democratic side, University of Michigan Law School professor Kimberly Ann Thomas is seeking the nomination. The race has significant implications, especially in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which puts abortion policy in the hands of state courts. Millions of dollars are being spent on Supreme Court races in various states with potentially significant conservative majority shifts.
In Michigan, the fight for the Supreme Court majority is being framed as a battle against government overreach by Republicans and as a fight to preserve reproductive rights by Democrats. Abortion rights were enshrined in the state constitution by voters in reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision. The upcoming Supreme Court races in Michigan, along with other key states, will have a profound impact on various policies, including abortion access, union rights, and democracy itself. Both parties are mobilizing their supporters to secure crucial victories in these high-stakes judicial races.
