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GRAND RAPIDS, MI The Michigan Republican Party has picked its endorsements for statewide races like attorney general, secretary of state, state board of education and more ahead of the 2022 general election.

Over 2,000 GOP delegates from around the state gathered in Grand Rapids on Saturday, April 23, for the Michigan Republican Party Convention, where they selected the partys unofficial nominees for nearly every race except for governor and U.S. senator.

State law has parties select their own candidates for attorney general, secretary of state and a handful of other races by holding a vote among party insiders. Meanwhile, the governor, Congress and Legislature races are all narrowed down via an August primary election.

The endorsements still need to be reaffirmed with an official party vote in August, but now the Michigan Republican Party can start rallying around specific candidates for each race and begin campaigning and fundraising for their fight against the Democrats.

RELATED: Why Michigan voters dont get to choose who will face Nessel, Benson

Candidates endorsed by former President Donald Trump fared well at Saturdays convention. The GOP ended up endorsing several of Trumps picks, including Kristina Karamo for Secretary of State and Matthew DePerno for Attorney General.

The candidates endorsed at the convention will likely be pitted against incumbent Democrats Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in Novembers general election.

The Michigan Democratic Party selected its endorsements earlier this month, mostly endorsing incumbent candidates. Like the Republicans, the Democratic Party still needs to solidify its endorsements in August.

RELATED: Jocelyn Benson, Dana Nessel, others snag endorsements from the Michigan Democratic Party

During the second round of voting on Saturday afternoon, there was some confusion among delegates about the order of the candidates on the ballot, leading the party to have to temporarily halt voting at one point.

Officials said the order that candidates were listed in on the ballot was different than a description of the candidate list displayed on a giant screen near the voting area. The mix-up led some delegates to confuse the section for attorney general and the section for the MSU board of trustees, several delegates later told reporters.

But elections officials say they dont believe the mix-up ultimately had an impact on the results of the votes.

The reason we stopped the vote was to investigate and bring both campaigns on and ask if they believe this is going to ultimately change the result or create any issues, party spokesperson Gustavo Portela said. Neither campaign thought that was the case. And along with the chairman, they all ultimately decided to continue and proceed.

There was no issue and we just continued to resume voting.

The party announced the results of elections at 8 p.m., three hours later than scheduled. Many delegates left the convention before the results were even tallied.

Below is a list of the candidates endorsed by the Michigan Republican Party this weekend, and who their Democratic opponents will most likely be ahead of the Nov. 8 general election.

Attorney General

Trump-endorsed attorney Matthew DePerno received the Republican Partys endorsement for Attorney General on Saturday, beating out Tom Leonard and Ryan Berman. DePerno, who attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, won about 54% of the vote on Saturday.

Berman joined forces with Leonard for the second round of voting, urging his delegates to back Leonard. The second round of voting was a close race between DePerno and Leonard, a race viewed as the outsider versus the establishment, respectively.

Trump congratulated DePerno and his other endorsement, Kristina Karamo, in a statement Saturday before the vote count was even finished.

They will go on to big victories for Attorney General and Secretary of State. I will back them strongly, Trump said in a statement. Michigan is one of the worst on Election Fraud and corruption, and they will put an end to it. At the same time, theyll get to the bottom of the 2020 Election Fraud!

DePerno is now vying to run against Democratic incumbent Dana Nessel for Michigan Attorney General. Nessel is seeking reelection to a second, four-year term, after first being elected to office in 2018.

RELATED: Matt DePerno Trumps pick wins Republican endorsement for Michigan attorney general

Secretary of State

GOP delegates endorsed Karamo as the partys pick for Secretary of State ahead of the general election. Karamo, a community college professor from Oak Park, has also been endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

A political newcomer in her first campaign for statewide office, Karamo works as a professor at Wayne County Community College, where she teaches public speaking and college orientation, according to her campaign website.

Karamo beat out state Rep. Beau LaFave, R-Iron Mountain, and Chesterfield Township Clerk Cindy Berry for the partys nomination. Karamo earned 67% of the vote, meaning they did not have to go into a second round of voting. LaFave had 19% of the vote and Berry had 13%.

Karamo would face Democratic incumbent Jocelyn Benson for Secretary of State in the general election. Benson is seeking reelection to a second, four-year term, after first being elected to office in 2018.

RELATED: Kristina Karamo lands GOP Secretary of State endorsement to face Jocelyn Benson in November

Michigan Supreme Court (two seats)

Brian Zahra and Paul Hudson were the two Republican candidates vying for party endorsements for two open seats on the Michigan Supreme Court.

Zahra is an incumbent seeking his second term on the Supreme Court. He was first elected for a partial term in November 2021, and he was re-elected in November 2014 for a full, eight-year term. Hudson is an appellate lawyer who has served as lead counsel in over 150 cases in the Michigan appeals courts, according to his website.

The two Republicans are vying to face the Democratic Partys endorsements, Justice Richard Bernstein and State House Representative Kyra Harris Bolden, in the general election.

State Board of Education (two seats)

Linda Lee Tarver and Tamara D. Carlone received the GOPs two endorsements for the state Board of Education. The seats are eight-year terms. Tarver and Carlone beat Michelle Frederick, a special needs activist, and former board member Richard Zeile for the endorsements.

Tarver is a former Michigan Civil Rights Commissioner and election integrity liaison with the Michigan Department of State. Shes also a businesswoman, a parent advocate and community activist for education, according to her website.

Carlone is an education activist and a founding board member for the Michigan chapter of United States Parents involved in Education.

The two Republican endorsements are vying to face Democrats Pamela Pugh and Mitchell Robinson in the general election. Pugh is seeking reelection for a second term and Robinson, following 40-year teaching career, is seeking a first term on the board.

University of Michigan Board of Regents (two seats)

Lena Epstein and Sevag Vartanian received the Republican Partys endorsements for the University of Michigan Board of Regents. They beat Andrea Fischer Newman, who previously served on the board and was backed by Trump, and Lauren Hantz, who conceded from the race before the second vote.

Epstein is a business owner from Detroit and was joined on Saturday by Trumps former attorney, Rudy Giuliani, who took to the stage in support of Epstein.

Vartanian works in the financial sector and runs a boutique asset management firm, Vartanian Capital Management, according to his website.

The Democratic Party endorsed incumbents Kathy White and Mike Behm for the University of Michigan Board of Regents. White, elected in 1998, is seeking a fourth term, while Behm was first elected to the board in 2014.

Michigan State University Board of Trustees (two seats)

Travis Menge and Mike Balow were endorsed by the Republican Party for two seats on the Michigan State University Board of Trustees.

Menge received over 40% of the vote in the first round of voting, meaning he automatically earned the endorsement, and Balow earned 74% of the vote in the second round, beating Melanie Foster.

Rick Wendorf withdrew from the race due to health issues, Weiss announced before the voting started.

Menge lives in Grand Rapids and works as a clinical professor in MSUs School of Medicine. Balow served as a naval officer in the U.S. Navy for seven years.

The two Republican endorsements are facing the Democratic Partys endorsements, Renee Knake Jefferson and Dennis Denno. Jefferson, appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2019, is running for a second term. Denno is seeking his first term.

Wayne State University Board of Governors (two seats)

Craig Wilsher and Christa Murphy were the two Republican candidates vying for party endorsements for two open seats on the Wayne State Board of Governors. Wilsher is a former law enforcement officer and an adjunct college professor, according to his campaign website.

The Democratic party endorsed Marilyn Kelly and Danielle Atkinson for the Wayne State Board of Governors. Kelly served 16 years on the Michigan Supreme Court and is now seeking her second term on the Board of Governors. Atkinson is seeking her first term.

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Meet the Republican partys endorsements vying for offices in the 2022 general election - MLive.com