AMAC Exclusive – By Eleanor Vaughn
One of the most high-profile gubernatorial contests this election cycle is in Michigan, where incumbent Democrat Gretchen Whitmer is facing off against Republican nominee Tudor Dixon. While most polls and pundits have Whitmer comfortably ahead in the race, Dixon is betting that her message of creating a “family-friendly Michigan” and voter backlash against Whitmer’s far-left policies will deny Whitmer a second term. Dixon will be aided in her efforts on Saturday when former President Donald Trump travels to the state to hold a rally for her and other Trump-endorsed candidates, kicking off the last full month of campaigning.
From even before her decision to run for public office, family has been a major motivating factor for Dixon. A mother of four, Dixon shifted away from a successful career in the steel industry to one in conservative media after seeing her daughters’ schools become breeding grounds for toxic far-left ideologies like Critical Race Theory and radical gender theory. Dixon has also often cited the pain she felt during the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020 when Democrat policies kept her from seeing her family as her grandmother—a pillar of support for her—passed away in a nursing home. It was only a few months later, in the spring of 2021, that Dixon decided to enter the race for governor.
On the economy, Dixon has structured her message around how easing the burdens of inflation and the ongoing economic recession will help families thrive and encourage more people to settle in Michigan. The Mitten State was one of only seven states to lose population in the past year, and it has had one of the slowest growth rates of any state over the past five years, losing a congressional seat in the last redistricting cycle.
Specifically, Dixon has called for a reduction in the personal income tax, an expansion of public-private workforce training opportunities, and a 40% reduction of regulations in four years. Dixon believes that by reversing many of Whitmer’s policies that raised taxes and regulations on businesses, companies will be incentivized to bring jobs and investment back to the state.
On education, Dixon has emphasized parents’ rights and greater transparency, a message similar to the one that helped boost Glenn Youngkin to the Governor’s Mansion in Virginia last year. (Youngkin even made several campaign stops with Dixon in September.)
Dixon has called on the state legislature to pass a new educational transparency law if she is elected that would require schools to post information about classroom instruction online, from the titles of books used in the classroom to any Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) curriculum. She has also outlined plans to use left-over COVID relief funds to provide one-on-one or small-group tutoring in reading and math for every student in Michigan to help students make up for learning loss as a result of school closures. Additionally, Dixon has called for the creation of education savings accounts to provide greater school choice for parents, so that students don’t remain trapped in failing schools.
Dixon also recognizes that community safety is critical to building a state that families want to live in. A 2021 report on crime from the Michigan state police found that violent crime has increased 9.2% in the past five years, a trend that shows signs of worsening in 2022. Motor vehicle theft alone has increased by 11.3% in the past five years. After Whitmer said she supported the “spirit” of the “Defund the Police” movement in 2020, Dixon has unveiled a $1 billion plan for funding and supporting law enforcement in Michigan. She has also called for a “zero tolerance” policy for rioters and an end to left-wing efforts to abolish cash bail that have wreaked havoc in other liberal states like New York and California.
Dixon’s proposed policies stand in stark contrast to those of Governor Whitmer, who has developed a reputation as one of the most far-left governors in the country. During the pandemic, Whitmer imposed some of the most stringent lockdowns of any state in the country – so extreme, in fact, that the Michigan Supreme Court declared her actions unconstitutional in October of 2020. Whitmer has also embraced President Joe Biden’s divisive rhetoric toward so-called “MAGA Republicans,” telling voters that “democracy is at stake” during a recent campaign rally. Following the Dobbs Supreme Court decision earlier this year, Whitmer has been an outspoken proponent of unrestricted abortion access, and has even petitioned the state Supreme Court to affirm the right to an abortion under the state constitution.
Also, while Whitmer enforced strict COVID rules, she did not always follow them herself, something Dixon is betting voters will keep in mind when they head to the ballot box. In March of 2021, Whitmer violated her own travel guidelines by secretly chartering a plane to Florida, later alleging that she was visiting her sick father (even as Michigan residents were barred from doing the same). An FAA investigation later found that the plane used was not authorized to operate charter flights. Then, in May of 2021, Whitmer was caught violating her COVID rules again when she was seen dining inside a crowded bar without a mask on.
Current polling has Whitmer leading Dixon by just under 10 points – not an insurmountable lead before Election Day, but a nonetheless significant advantage. With just a few weeks left in the campaign cycle, Dixon will need to close very strongly. But with Democrat extremism becoming more apparent by the day and the number of crises facing Americans only continuing to grow, voters may well decide that it’s time for a change in Lansing.
Eleanor Vaughn is a writer living in Virginia.
Dixon better get her message out, because all we see in MI is Witchmer spinning her lies and fake promises. My State insist real trouble if the Libs stay in power and the proposals change our constitution forever.
Not much being said here to refute or correct the image shown in Democratic political ads saying Ms Dixon wants “No Exceptions” to abortion legislation. This may be too extreme, but it is understandable that abortion legislation needs reform or at least clarification.
I’m a registered voter in Ohio. My father was in a nursing home in Dayton. They canceled all visits for one full year during the covid pandemic. My father passed soon after they opened up again. I wonder if the “cure” was worse than the “disease.” And I would like to hear from Governor DeWine about what his proposed policies are before early voting begins.
Lots of slugs in michigan; voters who are the second or even third generation of full time welfare recipients. Some are the residue of unsustainable union job families who have never adjusted to 15$ hr work instead of the 100$ Hr their parents brought home (wages and bennies). In other words, Michigan is probably as lost as California now. Too bad. TD would be a great choice.
Families are the foundation upon which America was built and the need to return to that foundation is beyond obvious.
That there is even the slightest chance of Whitmer being reelected says it all about our voting laws as long as non citizens and illegal aliens are allowed to vote nothing will change
At this point, I am not sure if being endorsed by Trump hurts or helps candidates. Last week, Trump really slammed Mitch Mc & then threw out racist nickname at his wife. Trump did this on his social media & only shows that he is a bully to any that do not agree with him. Republicans need to quit kneeling down to DT & do what is best for all Americans.
What seems to be best for most Americans is a bad America. An America that makes it impossible to make payments of debts. An America that says we would rather spend than be responsible. An America that says I don’t like Trump, because of such and such, (What he says) even though his policies are the best since Ronald Raegan and maybe even better. An America that seems to love Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer as they don’t seem to go away. An America that says I’ll vote for democrats, the more unsafe things become. An America that is entitled. An America that loves cocktail parties. An America that loves high gas prices. An America that will only come together to benefit. An America that is full of self and nonservice. An America that paints a great picture, and has good look, but is only talk. An America that almost never makes mistakes. An America who is only dependant on other people. A very prideful America. An America that is too general and not specific enough. An America that likes freedom no more. An America that puts sports at the forefront of politics. An America not willing to fight. An America not willing to help. An America that has no one’s back. An American Democracy. A stupid America. You can’t help all of America if you really want a good America. You’ve got to be in service of good people, and bad people and hopes it makes a change, but if not, keep going. I don’t like this America. I want the better one.
i love how Trump keeps winning; we just needed one elected politician to do what we voted him in to do. DC is broken. the job is still in front of us.