(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .



Mike Cox throws his hat in the ring for Michigan governor [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2025-04-17

Mike Cox is a Marine veteran, which is good. Mike Cox has been elected to state office as a Republican, which is uh-oh. But much more discrediting for the former attorney general (R-Michigan, 2003 — 2010) is that now he’s running for governor as a Republican, knowing full well what the Republican Party now stands for: complete loyalty to Trump and his damaging, destructive vision for America.

The Republican Party of Gov. George Romney (R-Michigan, 1963 — 1969) is a thing of the past. The Republican Party of today does not even pretend to have values or principles.

Although Trump is eager to suppress votes and intimidate voters, he probably doesn’t want to completely do away with elections just yet. Especially elections that might be won by Republicans.

The pattern for Michigan governor since Gov. Milliken (R-Michigan, 1969 — 1983) has been that one Republican governor is followed by one Democrat who then is followed by another Republican. If this pattern holds, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-Michigan), who was first elected governor in 2018, then in 2022 and can’t run for governor again in 2026 (per the state constitution), will be succeeded by whoever wins the Republican primary.

By the way, it is journalistic malfeasance to say Cox is vying to replace Whitmer. The correct word is "succeed."

So probably Trump wants this historical pattern to hold, if he’s aware of it. Obviously, I hope the pattern is broken by some Democrat (though not Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who’s running as an independent and spouting a false equivalency between Democrats and Republicans).

Jon King gives some background for Michigan Advance on Cox and the other candidates who’ve announced so far:

Cox is now the fifth Republican to announce for governor, joining Michigan Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-Porter Township), U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township), Genesee County truck driver Anthony Hudson and Traverse City native Evan Space. On the Democratic side, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson have each announced their campaigns for governor, while Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, a longtime Democrat, is running as an independent. Cox, who is married to former Michigan GOP Chair Laura Cox, previously ran for governor in 2010, but came in third in the Republican primary behind Rick Snyder, who went on to serve two-terms as governor, and Pete Hoekstra, a former congressman, who was confirmed last week as the U.S. ambassador to Canada. Cox, a Marine Corps veteran, later opened his own law firm, best known for representing former University of Michigan student-athletes in litigation against the university for sexual abuse perpetrated by former sports physician Robert Anderson.

As Michigan’s attorney general, Cox seems to have been a much better man and a much better lawyer than the most recent Republican former attorney general, Bill Schuette (R-Michigan, 2011 — 2018), whose main priority seemed to be to deny rights to gays.

Cox at least stood for the notion that divorced fathers should continue to support their children. But whatever principles and values Cox had in the past have gone out the window as he gets ready to grovel for Trump’s endorsement.

“I’ve protected people my entire life, fought and beat the worst of the worst. Let’s not stand by and let radical politicians or woke bureaucrats undermine us any longer. I’m running to be your Governor, and together, we can Make Michigan Great Again,” said Cox, paraphrasing ... Donald Trump’s trademark slogan.

But isn't Trump the worst of the worst? It's very disappointing that Cox, someone who on more than one occasion has sworn or affirmed to defend the U. S. Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic, is now cozying up to the most notorious domestic enemy of the Constitution.

Clearly Cox must not become Michigan’s next governor. Though maybe we should want him to win the Republican primary.

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/4/17/2316885/-Mike-Cox-throws-his-hat-in-the-ring-for-Michigan-governor?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=latest_community&pm_medium=web

Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/