Meet Ralph Rebandt: Candidate for Michigan Governor

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

Ralph Rebandt – Republican Candidate for Governor

May 29 update: The Board of State Canvassers ruled that Ralph Rebandt did not receive enough valid signatures to qualify for the August 4 primary ballot.

In your words, tell us who you are and why you’re the ideal candidate for Michigan governor.

Ralph Rebandt is running for Governor of Michigan in 2026 to build the strongest economy in the nation, restore family values, protect parental rights, and recover Michigan's founding principles.

As a pastor, entrepreneur, former union member, and proven community leader, Ralph brings real-world experience and common sense solutions to the challenges facing Michigan families. His platform includes innovative economic policies like transactional gold legislation and state-backed cryptocurrency, school choice for parents, support for law enforcement, and protecting constitutional values.

With a unique background that bridges labor unions and business leadership, Ralph brings real-world experience to the challenges facing Michigan workers and families. He's not a career politician—he's a problem solver committed to building Michigan's next Golden Age.

Ralph's vision is clear: make Michigan the #1 state in the nation economically, while protecting families, defending parental rights, and ensuring every child has access to quality education without government overreach.

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? 

Michigan’s central challenge is the need to build the strongest economy in the nation and relieve financial pressure on working families.

This includes concerns such as:

• High tax burdens (especially property taxes)
• Limited economic mobility in some communities
• The need for stronger job creation and workforce development

He ties many other issues—education, public safety, and family stability—back to economic opportunity, suggesting that a weak economy undermines all other areas of life.

As Governor I would:

Eliminate Property Taxes

• Immediate relief: suspend property taxes for seniors age 65+
• Long-term goal: constitutional amendment to abolish property taxes statewide
• Rationale: ensure “true home ownership” without risk of tax foreclosure

Economic Development & Job Growth

We must focus on:

• Small business creation and support
• Apprenticeships and vocational training programs
• Revitalization of urban areas through job opportunities and entrepreneurship

He also proposes more unconventional financial policies, such as exploring state-backed cryptocurrency and alternative economic systems, aimed at innovation and financial independence for the state.

Workforce & Education Reform (Economic Lens)

To support long-term economic growth, he links education directly to workforce needs:

• Expand career and technical education (CTE) programs
• Promote STEM education for high-tech industries
• Shift funding to follow students rather than systems (school choice model)
• The goal is to better align education with job market demands and reduce skills gaps.

Strengthening Public Safety to Support Economic Growth

I believe that economic growth depends on safe communities, proposing:

• Increased funding and support for law enforcement
• Recruitment incentives for police officers
• Community policing and crime prevention initiatives

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? 

Michigan farmers are facing a severe financial crisis which has resulted in the loss of 300,000 acres of prime farmland and a 7% decline in operating farms.

The challenges facing farmers today are

1. Rising input cost.
2. Low commodity prices.
3. Loss of access to foreign markets.
4. Severe labor shortages.
5. Aggressive enforcement of environmental rules by EGLE.

As we know many of these challenges require federal involvement.

1. I will work with President Trump to harness the resources of the federal government.
2. Empower Conservation Districts to full fill their legal role as the delivery system for Federal agriculture programs. Currently Michigan loses hundreds of millions of dollars of federal aid due to Districts being underutilized and ignored by MDARD.
3. Develop an interest free loan program for small and medium farmers.
4. Appoint an MDARD director who actually understand the challenges farmers face today.
5. Ask Senators Daley, Victory, Lauwers and McBroom to advise and direct solutions to agricultural issues.

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? 

The strongest and most dedicated environmentalist I know are farmers. Their biggest asset is dirt and water. Who better to protect our natural resources?

1. I will announce on January 1st of 2027, a strategy that will put into action a two year plan to eliminate EGLE.
2. Further improve and protect family farms as the business is transferred to the next generation.
3. Increase protections and benefits of P.A. 116. Turn over responsibility to Conservation Districts.
4. Ask current and former drain commissioners who have served in the Michigan legislature to advise and help direct the DNR concerning wetlands, rivers, dams and streams. Cut the DNR budget by 20%.