Republican state House candidate Hassan Nehme delivered a blistering rebuke of the Michigan Republican Party, accusing its leadership of abandoning his campaign while prioritizing internal power struggles over winning elections.
In a Facebook post, Nehme called the party “an absolute embarrassment” and argued that anti-Muslim rhetoric, ineffective leadership and an obsession with titles have undermined Republican efforts to reach voters.
Nehme, the Republican candidate for Michigan’s 15th House District, faced Democrat Jalal Hussein Abdallah in a district covering west Dearborn and Dearborn Heights. His criticism centered on what he described as a disconnect between the work expected of candidates and the support provided by Republican organizations.
He said he fought for votes in communities the party had alienated, only to find that the organizations he belonged to were unwilling to help.
“And where was the MIGOP? Absolutely fucking nowhere,” Nehme wrote.
A Rebuke From Inside the Party
Nehme’s criticism carried a personal dimension: He identified himself as a member of Republican executive committees and accused those organizations of finding money for candidates outside their districts while failing to support his campaign.
The post did not name the committees, identify specific contributions or provide financial records. His allegations nevertheless framed the dispute as an accountability problem within the party’s own structure.
Nehme described committees consumed by competition for chairmanships and influence, arguing that those ambitions had displaced basic campaign responsibilities: recruiting volunteers, knocking on doors, raising money and organizing voters.
“You can’t win elections sitting around congratulating yourselves for being Republicans,” he wrote.
Anti-Muslim Rhetoric and Missed Opportunities
Nehme placed anti-Muslim rhetoric at the center of his criticism, arguing that the party was damaging its prospects by alienating entire communities.
His accusation went beyond campaign funding. He portrayed the party’s outreach problems and organizational failures as interconnected: Candidates were being asked to earn trust in communities where the Republican brand had already created obstacles, without receiving the resources needed to overcome them.
The post did not identify particular statements or officials responsible for the rhetoric he condemned. Instead, it challenged the party’s broader direction and its willingness to compete for voters it has struggled to reach.
Opponent’s Disciplinary Case Added to His Frustration
Nehme also questioned why Republicans had failed to support him while his Democratic opponent faced disciplinary proceedings involving approximately $800,000 in client settlement funds.
The Detroit Free Press reported that the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission filed a complaint alleging that Abdallah failed to distribute money owed to clients. His attorney, Philip Thomas, told the newspaper that all money owed to the clients had been repaid. The proceedings concerned professional misconduct allegations; the reporting cited here did not establish a final disciplinary ruling.
For Nehme, the proceedings represented another reason Republican organizations should have taken his campaign seriously. His assertion that he outperformed other Republicans in his area remains his assessment in the post; establishing that independently would require a comparison of completed election returns.
Hassan Nehme’s Full Facebook Post
The Michigan Republican Party is an absolute embarrassment.
The anti-Muslim rhetoric, pathetic leadership, and nonstop internal power struggles are destroying this party. We alienate entire communities, throw away opportunities to win statewide elections, and then act surprised when Democrats wipe the floor with us.
I ran for an OPEN seat in two overwhelmingly Democratic cities, outperformed Republicans in my area, and challenged an opponent facing disciplinary proceedings over approximately $800,000 in client settlement funds.
And where was the MIGOP? Absolutely fucking nowhere.
I’m on the executive committees of Republican organizations that had money to donate to candidates outside their districts but couldn’t lift a finger to support one of their own.
These committees are glorified social clubs filled with people obsessed with titles, influence, and controlling a party that keeps losing.
Everybody wants to be chairman. Everybody wants a seat at the table. But when it’s time to knock doors, organize volunteers, raise money, or actually fight for a seat, they vanish.
You can’t win elections sitting around congratulating yourselves for being Republicans.
I fought to earn votes in communities this party has spent years alienating, while the very people who should have been helping were too busy fighting each other over meaningless positions.
We don’t have a functioning political machine. We have a collection of egos pretending to be one.
The Democrats didn’t have to destroy the Michigan Republican Party. Its own leadership is doing a damn good job of that.
Nehme’s post leaves Republican leaders with a pointed challenge: explain how the Michigan Republican Party supports candidates doing difficult electoral work, and whether their priorities extend beyond controlling the party itself.
And Hassan we agree with you 100%
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