Republican Tudor Dixon has won the nomination to face Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer on the November ballot. Dixon came out on top of a five-person field.
Dixon is a political novice whose rise was assisted by a late-breaking endorsement frim former President Donald Trump and backing from the wealthy DeVos family and Right to Life of Michigan. In her victory speech, Dixon doubled down on social issues and opposition to COVID-19 restrictions.
“The battle lines in this race couldn’t be any clearer," Dixon said. "This is going to be an epic battle between a conservative businesswoman and mother and a far-left birthing parent and career politician.”
Several times during Dixon's victory speech, she made a point of linking the Democratic governor and President Joe Biden.
“Michigan, Whitmer doesn’t get it," Dixon said. "The truth is she doesn’t care. Instead of tackling inflation, Gretchen Whitmer is talking about anything but. Like President Biden, she’s pretending no one will notice they’ve created, that word again, recession.”
A Whitmer campaign spokesperson said Dixon’s opposition to abortion rights and her economic policies would pull Michigan backwards.
After results began coming in, Dixon's opponents, including businessman Kevin Rinke, gave their takes on where the party should head.
“We need to stop the infighting as a party," said Rinke. "And for the Republicans to take back and change the course that I believe America is going on, we need to do a better job coming up with qualified candidates versus shiny pennies.”
Another GOP primary contender, Garrett Soldano, also urged party unity.
"Folks, I’m here to tell you, we all have the same goal and that is to beat Governor Whitmer," he told supporters Tuesday night.
Soldano was among five Republicans running for the chance to face Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer in the November general election.