Another GOP staffer ousted as state Senate ethics scandal deepens

Second staffer tied to Republican consulting, petition firm ousted from Michigan Senate

by Ben Solis, Michigan Advance
November 11, 2025

Meghan Reckling, a Michigan Senate staffer who also co-founded the Republican Victory Field Operations, has resigned from her post in the office of state Sen. Lana Thies (R-Brighton), a move that followed another Senate staffer’s shuffle to the House over fallout involving their outside consulting work.

Reckling left her job acting as chief of staff for Theis following the Senate Business Office giving her an ultimatum of resigning from the Senate or keeping her connection to Victory Field Operations, The Detroit News reported on Tuesday. Reckling told the newspaper that she chose to resign.

The Senate Business Office is run by the office of Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids). Rosie Jones, spokesperson for Brinks, said the Senate does not discuss personnel matters and could not confirm whether Reckling resigned or not.

Reckling founded Victory Field Operations along with Jeff Wiggins, who worked in the office of Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt as his press secretary until Monday, when it was announced that Wiggins was moving to the office of House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township).

The moves follow the Michigan Advance reporting in October that Wiggins and Victory Field Operations were working for U.S. Rep. John James’ gubernatorial campaign. Nesbitt is also a candidate for governor and James is one of Nesbitt’s top rivals in the Republican gubernatorial hunt.

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At least two well-connected Michigan political operatives told the Advance in a previous story that the situation was a clear conflict of interest, even if it wasn’t illegal in terms of Michigan election law.

The Advance learned in October through public campaign finance data that Victory Field Operations was paid by James, not just for ballot access work but also political consulting via Mission Michigan, the issues-based political action committee supporting James.

Mission Michigan was created in April to support James, and received a large $5 million contribution from Dan and Pamela DeVos, members of the prominent Republican DeVos family.

Michigan campaign finance reports show that the committee paid Victory Field Operations $40,000 for political strategy consulting, according to July and September filings.

The Detroit News reported Tuesday that Nesbitt also paid Victory Field Operations for political consulting, muddying the waters even more.

Michigan Senate leader’s press secretary moving to House speaker’s office

Reckling also told the newspaper that she and Wiggins had been previously approved to do work with Victory Field Operations outside the halls of the Senate.

Michigan Senate rules allow for outside work by employees but it was not encouraged, and certainly not for large scale political work.

But that changed following the Advance’s report on Wiggins’ work with Victory Field Operations while he was key Nesbitt staffer. The Detroit News reported that Reckling said Brinks was “unhappy” with her work with the firm she founded and that it was growing more political.

Reckling is one of Michigan’s foremost conservative voices on social media, routinely commenting on statements made by candidates and other politicos, news stories or the political headwinds of the day.

Nesbitt in a statement to The Detroit News said the Senate Business Office’s actions amounted to a political witch hunt.

Michigan Advance is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Michigan Advance maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jon King for questions: info@michiganadvance.com.