Michigan Supreme Court Grants GOP Standing in Election Parity Lawsuit
- Jul 22
- 3 min read
Let the trial begin!
By MFEI Founder and Chair Patrice Johnson with assistance from xAI’s Grok
July 22, 2025
In a landmark decision for election integrity, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled the Michigan Republican Party and the Republican National Committee (RNC) have standing to sue Flint officials for failing to appoint an equal number of Republican election inspectors during the 2022 elections.
In MIGOP v. Donahue, the Michigan Supreme Court's July 14 order reverses the Court of Appeals’ decision and remands the case to the Genesee County Circuit Court, reinforcing the importance of partisan parity in Michigan’s electoral process.
In a July 14 press statement, RNC Chairman Michael Whatley said, “The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the RNC has standing to hold Flint’s Board of Election Commissioners accountable for violating state law.”
Whatley went on to explain, “Every voter deserves transparency and fairness — and that starts with equal representation among poll workers. The RNC will keep fighting and winning to secure honest elections across the country.”
The order ensures both major political parties will have standing to sue when their right to have parity is violated. The Founding Fathers were all about checks and balances, and this ruling will help restore them to election oversight.
Pure Integrity Michigan Elections (PIME) originally broke the story about Flint imbalances, sending a legal demand letter to City of Flint officials after the 2022 election.
The case centers on allegations Flint’s Board of Election Commissioners violated Michigan Election Law, specifically MCL 168.674(2), which requires election inspectors to be appointed “as nearly as possible” in equal numbers from each major political party. The plaintiffs argued that Flint’s failure to hire sufficient Republican inspectors in the 2022 primary and general elections compromised electoral fairness.
Both the Genesee Circuit Court and the Court of Appeals previously ruled the Republican organizations lacked standing, dismissing their claims. The Supreme Court’s decision, supported by Justices Brian Zahra, Richard Bernstein, Elizabeth Welch, Kyra Harris Bolden, and Kimberly Thomas, drew on the precedent set in Lansing Schools Education Association v. Lansing Board of Education* (2010).
The court held that the Republican organizations have a “special injury or right, or substantial interest” distinct from the general public, as Michigan law grants major political parties a unique role in submitting lists of potential election inspectors through their county chairs MCL 168.673a.
This statutory framework ensures partisan balance and supports the GOP’s standing to challenge parity violations, fostering “sincere and vigorous advocacy” for fair elections.
The plaintiffs emphasized that their lawsuit aims to establish clear standards for partisan parity to prevent future violations and not to relitigate the 2022 election. Chief Justice Megan Cavanagh dissented without explanation, and Justice Noah Hood did not participate due to the case’s timing before his appointment.
This ruling strengthens the role of major political parties in safeguarding Michigan’s electoral integrity, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements for balanced representation. As the case returns to the trial court, it highlights the critical need for equitable election administration for Michigan’s voters.
Plenty of work remains to correct imbalances in the major cities across the state. Our recent report, Party Parity Analysis, revealed that 7 of 8 large municipalities in Michigan were out of balance in the 2024 election.
Watch for MFEI News & Commentary’s reporting once the trial gets underway in Flint.
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