Editor’s note: Michigan Farm Bureau has coordinated with the candidates for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat and the gubernatorial race to provide their responses to four questions to help you learn more about the candidate, their background, and agriculture-related views. In the interest of fairness and objectivity, staff did not write or edit the candidates’ submissions. Each profile is presented as submitted by the candidates.
U.S. Senate Candidates: Mallory McMorrow, Mike Rogers, and Haley Stevens
Candidates for Governor: Jocelyn Benson, Mike Cox, Mike Duggan, John James, Perry Johnson, Aric Nesbitt, Ralph Rebandt, and Kim Thomas
Mike Cox – Republican Candidate for Governor
In your words, tell us who you are and why you’re the ideal candidate for Michigan governor.
I’m Mike Cox, a Marine Corps veteran, former Wayne County homicide prosecutor, and former Michigan Attorney General. I’ve spent my life fighting for Michigan families, whether prosecuting violent criminals, standing up for taxpayers, or taking on corruption and government overreach. I’m running for governor because Michigan is becoming harder to afford, our schools are failing too many students, and government red tape is holding back workers, job creators, and farmers. I’ve led in difficult situations before and delivered results. As governor, I’ll bring strong conservative leadership focused on affordability, safer communities, better opportunities, and putting Michigan families first again.
What do you believe is the most pressing issue facing Michigan residents today, and what specific policies would you pursue as governor to address it?
The biggest problem is the economy. We have the lowest household income growth in America, dwell among the worst unemployment rates each month, and have the worst job creation rate in the country. This leads to our current affordably crisis, which is made worse by the outsized spending growth of the Whitmer Administration which at over $27 billion means that each family of four is now burdened by over $10,000 in new government spending. The solution is straightforward: eliminate the income tax, reduce red tape and regulation, and unleash job creation so people can actually get ahead again.
Michigan agriculture is a major driver of the state’s economy and rural communities. What do you see as the greatest challenge facing Michigan farmers today, and how would your administration help address it?
The biggest challenges I’ve seen are a myriad of cost pressures, especially energy, labor, and regulatory burdens. Farmers are being squeezed from every direction. The solution is to reduce unnecessary regulations, lower energy costs through energy diversification and repeal of the so-called Clean Energy and Jobs Act of 2023 (Whitmer’s purported “green energy bill”) and ensure state policies support production of agricultural products rather than restrict it. Solving the labor problem starts with making Michigan a state where people want to live again, including rebuilding our education system and stopping the overtaxation of work.
We should also be expanding markets for what Michigan farmers already produce, including biofuels. A significant share of our corn goes into ethanol, and expanding access to fuels like E15 would create new demand while lowering costs for consumers.
Michigan farmers depend on both a strong economy and healthy natural resources. How would you work to balance agricultural productivity, environmental stewardship, and regulatory certainty for landowners?
I believe agriculture and environmental groups must work together around practical, real-world outcomes instead of political talking points. Michigan already has successful models through programs like the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program and the Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices, which help farmers meet high environmental standards without heavy-handed government mandates. We should build on those partnerships, not undermine them with constantly shifting regulations.
As Attorney General, I took that balanced approach by protecting Michigan’s natural resources while also standing up for working families, job creators, and responsible resource use. I led efforts to protect the Great Lakes from invasive species and ballast water pollution while also fighting billions in unnecessary utility rate increases that hurt farmers, manufacturers, and consumers alike through higher energy costs.
Michigan agriculture contributes more than $100 billion annually to our economy, and our status as the nation’s second most diverse agricultural economy gives us enormous potential for future growth. My focus as Governor will be ensuring affordable energy, protecting Michigan’s Right to Farm Act, maintaining clear and predictable regulations for landowners, and treating farmers as partners instead of regulatory inmates so they can continue feeding our state and growing our economy for generations to come.
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