- Former President Trump endorsed Michigan GOP candidate Tudor Dixon ahead of the Tuesday primary.
- For months, the GOP race has been unusually fluid, with several candidates forced to leave the race.
- Republicans are seeking to oust Gov. Whitmer, but she is on positive ground with Michigan voters.
Former President Donald Trump on Friday threw his support behind Tudor Dixon in the Michigan GOP gubernatorial primary, giving the ex-conservative media personality a jolt of energy days before the contest that will determine the party's nominee to compete against Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer this fall.
"When I met Tudor Dixon, she was not well known, but I could tell she had something very special — it was a quality that few others have," the former president said in a statement ahead of Tuesday's primary. "She delivered a powerful speech on how she would lead Michigan, fight for Election Integrity, turn around the Economy, and protect the future of Michigan for every child."
"It's time for a BIG change, and a BIG comeback," he added.
In a separate statement, Dixon called Trump's endorsement a "great honor."
"Our vision for a family-friendly Michigan clearly resonates with voters. It is the reason our broad coalition is growing," she said.
However, Dixon's political rise came after five Republican candidates were barred from appearing on the ballot due to numerous forged signatures that were found on the nominating petitions that candidates are required to submit to run for office in Michigan. (Gubernatorial candidates were required to submit a minimum of 15,000 signatures and were instructed not to exceed 30,000 signatures.)
Former Detroit police chief James Craig — who had long been viewed as a frontrunner in the race — along with businessmen Perry Johnson and Michael Markey Jr., were disqualified from the ballot. Craig is now running as a write-in candidate.
Two additional candidates were also booted from the ballot: businesswoman Donna Brandenburg and Michigan State Police Capt. Mike Brown, who withdrew from the race.
The GOP candidates who will appear on Tuesday's ballot include Dixon; pastor Ralph Rebandt; real estate broker Ryan Kelley; businessman Kevin Rinke; and chiropractor Garrett Soldano.
In June, Kelley was arrested by the FBI and faces four misdemeanor charges for his role in the the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. (He pled not guilty to the charges earlier this month, according to The Detroit Free Press.)
A poll conducted in mid-July for The Detroit News and WDIV-TV showed Dixon in the lead with 19% of the GOP primary vote, followed by 15% for Rinke, 13% for Kelley, and 12% who expressed support for Soldano. Rebandt garnered support from 2% of respondents, while 38% of GOP voters who were polled said they were undecided.
While Republicans are poised to enjoy a favorable electoral climate this fall, Whitmer remains in a strong position as she runs for reelection to a second term — despite vocal GOP attacks criticizing her support of coronavirus restrictions earlier in the pandemic.
The survey revealed that Whitmer had a 55% approval rating statewide, with 40% disapproving; in a head-to-head matchup with Dixon, the governor led 51%-40%.
And despite Trump's endorsement, a group of Michigan conservatives in a letter sought to prevent the former president from making a pick in the race and accused Dixon of being an "establishment" candidate, according to The Detroit News.
In May, Dixon was endorsed by the wealthy DeVos family — which includes former US Education Secretary and longtime Republican power broker Betsy DeVos — which aggravated several Trump-backed candidates who remain disdainful of the former Cabinet official.
DeVos resigned from her post on January 6 after she came to the conclusion that Trump was not going to be removed from office by then-Vice President Mike Pence invoking the 25th Amendment over the riot at the US Capitol.