Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox has tossed his hat into the already crowded ring of the 2026 gubernatorial race. On Tuesday, he announced his intention to vie for the state's top political office once again, running on a platform of axing the state's income tax and pushing back against what he perceives as the current administration’s expansive governance. The Republican, who hails from the U.S. Marine Corps and carries a tenure as the state's first GOP attorney general in decades, is determined to lead Michigan through what he calls a "comeback," as reported by CBS Detroit.
With a campaign slogan of "Make Michigan Great Again," Cox criticized the outgoing Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who is term-limited, for creating a state that is "weaker, poorer, and less free," as told in a statement obtained by WZZM 13. According to the Detroit News, he attacked Michigan's perceived failings under the current administration ranging from the economy to education, reminiscing about Michigan’s past when he believed more was possible, "Growing up in Redford, just a blue-collar town, we were taught that we could do anything in Michigan — and the reality is we could," Cox said to The Detroit News.
Cox aims to dismantle the state income tax and restore a right-to-work law which, according to him, was wrongly repealed. His tenure as attorney general featured efforts to aid homeowners post-recession and the creation of initiatives like the Michigan's statewide child support division and the Michigan Senior Brigade. Such achievements, he believes, build a credible resume for leading the state forward, as noted by The CBS Detroit.
In a crowded field, Cox is facing off against fellow Republicans John James, Anthony Hudson, and Aric Nesbitt, as well as Democrats Jocelyn Benson, Garlin Gilchrist, and Chris Swanson. Not to be pigeonholed, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is also running as an independent. Cox's campaign is not without its detractors; the Democratic Governors Association labeled him an "out-of-touch extremist," and took swipes at his policy positions and past electoral defeat, as reported by WZZM 13. Despite having to reintroduce himself to voters after a hiatus from public service, Cox says he has learned to run a successful business and has room to grow politically, enjoying the role of an underdog as he indicated in an interview with The Detroit News.
Cox's journey to the governorship is not just political but also personal, with three of his four children living outside Michigan, a testament to the state's challenges in retaining its residents. "Three of my four kids don’t live in Michigan — and that kills me, right? Unfortunately, I’m not the only one," he lamented, as quoted by The Detroit News. The campaign marks his second attempt at the governor's mansion, hoping that his visions of tax cuts and regulatory rollbacks will resonate with Michigan voters looking for a shift in governance.
