Ann Arbor businessman and U of M regent Ron Weiser was elected leader of the Michigan Republican Party Saturday for the third time after a bitterly fought election.

Weiser and co-chair Meshawn Maddock won 66% of the vote, defeating Laura Cox and her co-chair Terry Bowman. Initially, Laura Cox was not seeking reelection but changed her mind, accusing Weiser of misconduct.

Two days before the online party convention, Cox accused Weiser of a “sleazy payoff”, saying that Weiser paid $200,000 in party funds to a Macomb County activist to keep them out of the 2018 secretary of state race.

Weiser accused Cox of smearing his reputation out of desperation.