Tonight’s Michigan Republican gubernatorial debate may feature a crowded stage, but voters shouldn’t expect much difference. Every candidate in this field is running on the same failed, price-hiking agenda — backing policies that raise costs, rip away health care, and make Michigan’s affordability crisis worse. Johnson and Cox aren’t exceptions — they’re the rule in a field defined by the same costly, extreme agenda.
Perry Johnson is running on chaos, fraud, and Trump’s failed agenda, after his 2022 gubernatorial campaign was derailed by a fraudulent signature scandal that kept him off the ballot.
His record includes:
- Fraud: Johnson was kicked off the ballot after a fraudulent signature scandal
- Backing Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” — slashing health care, setting up massive Medicare cuts, and taking food assistance from Michigan families
- Supporting reckless tariffs — driving up grocery prices and dragging Michigan farmers and small businesses into a trade war
- Praising DOGE cuts — putting Social Security at risk and threatening Michigan jobs
- Pushing election conspiracy theories — undermining trust in Michigan’s elections
Mike Cox is running on extremism, higher costs, and a record of abusing power, reflecting a career spent putting Trump’s agenda ahead of Michigan families.
His record includes:
- Abuse of power: Cox attempted to throttle the Manoogian Mansion investigation while serving as attorney general
- Backing Trump’s agenda — slashing health care, cutting SNAP, and setting up Medicare cuts that raise costs for Michigan families
- Supporting tariffs — driving up prices on groceries and everyday essentials
- Pushing an extreme anti-abortion agenda — defending and backing policies that would effectively ban all abortions in Michigan.
- Backing federal overreach — supporting Trump deploying federal forces in Michigan
- Pushing election denial efforts — echoing conspiracy theories that undermine democracy
Whether it’s Perry Johnson, Mike Cox, or any of the other candidates on stage tonight, the reality is the same: this field is united behind a dangerous, price-hiking agenda that raises costs, cuts health care, and leaves Michigan families paying the price.
Published: Apr 30, 2026