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Michigan Forward Network
| Michigan Forward Network | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Michigan |
| Type: | 501(c)(4) |
| Affiliation: | Republican Party |
| Top official: | Ronna Romney McDaniel, Chief Executive Officer |
| Founder(s): | Richard DeVos Jr. |
| Year founded: | 2025 |
Michigan Forward Network is a 501(c)(4) organization based in Michigan. It was founded in 2025 by Richard DeVos Jr., the husband of Betsy DeVos. In a statement announcing the group's foundation, Richard DeVos Jr. said, "Michigan is at a tipping point. With one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, underperforming schools and a shrinking population, the challenges facing Michigan are serious. I love my home state, and if you care about Michigan’s future, you cannot sit idly by and watch its decline. The Michigan Forward Network is committed to delivering the leadership and policies we need to turn things around.”[1]
Ronna Romney McDaniel, former chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, was hired to be the group's chief executive officer. McDaniel said the group's first goal was to support Republicans gaining control of the state Senate and retaining control of the state House in the 2026 elections. She said: "President Trump’s historic victory last year showed that Michiganders are sick of extreme policies that have made our communities unsafe, our schools fail and our state too expensive to raise a family. This team is hitting the ground running to build on the political success of 2024 and get our state back on track.”[1]
Background
Richard DeVos Jr. founded Michigan Forward Network June 2025. At the time of the group's founding, DeVos was the president of the Windquest Group. He was previously the president of Amway, a company co-founded by his father, Richard DeVos Sr.. DeVos Jr. ran for governor of Michigan in 2006, losing to Jennifer Granholm (D).
Leadership
As of June 2025, the group's leadership consisted of:[1]
- Ronna Romney McDaniel, Chief Executive Officer
- Shane Hernandez, President
- Sarah Anderson, Chief of Staff
Work and activities
Electoral activities and influence
2026 legislative elections
In June 2025, Ronna Romney McDaniel said the group would target the state's 2026 legislative elections following Republican gains in the state House in 2024, when Republicans won control of the chamber after picking up four seats. McDaniel said their goal was to retain control of the state House, win control of the state Senate, and build momentum for candidates higher up the ballot for the state's executive offices.[1]
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this organization made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope. Know of one we missed? Click here to let us know.
See also
Footnotes
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