A look at Michigan’s 2022 race for governor

In the Michigan gubernatorial race, both Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Republican opponent Tudor Dixon acknowledge problems facing the wider public. They each discussed some of these things at last night’s debate.

Republican nominee Dixon says crime is too high, prices are rising too quickly, and K-12 education is too poor in quality. The former conservative news host and businesswoman wants to ramp up police recruitment, hire more armed security in schools and institute stronger voter ID laws. Dixon also denies the validity of the 2020 presidential election.

Governor Whitmer, by contrast, is running on ensuring abortion protections, securing democracy and trying to get more of her agenda passed. In her first four years, a Republican state legislature made that very hard to do. The legislature prevented a tax hike to increase funding to fix the roads, stopped her from repealing right to work laws, and prevented Whitmer from raising the minimum wage to $15.

But compromise has happened too. Whitmer helped expand money for childcare, increase reading tutors in schools and create tuition-free community college programs.  

“I think both candidates gave their supporters reason to be excited and optimistic going into the final days of this race.” — Craig Mauger, reporter

Listen: The issues each candidate is prioritizing to win the gubernatorial race.

Guests

Craig Mauger covers state government and politics for the Detroit News. He says while Governor Whitmer was “much more on the attack” last night in comparison with the first gubernatorial debate, both candidates stirred excitement with their supporters.

“I think both candidates gave their supporters reason to be excited and optimistic going into the final days of this race,” says Mauger.

Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist says that if the state legislature leans in a Democratic majority, the Whitmer Administration will be able to do more. He adds that the administration has more policies it wants to implement.

“We’re looking forward to repealing the tax on retirement incomes and pensions,” says Gilchrest. “We’re looking forward to tripling the earned income tax credit for working families in Michigan who are just trying to make ends meet. We’re looking forward to further strengthening our state’s response to the climate crisis, and repealing right to work and legislating a (higher) wage.”

Detroit Today has reached out multiple times to the Dixon campaign to invite Tudor Dixon onto the program. We have still not heard back from the candidate.