Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox joins crowded Republican governor's race

SAUGATUCK, Mich. – Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox connected Tuesday entered the 2026 governor’s race, adding to a increasing tract of Republicans vying to win term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Cox served arsenic lawyer wide from 2003 to 2011. He launched a gubernatorial bid adjacent the extremity of his 2nd term, yet coming successful 3rd successful the Republican primary.

Cox is hoping for a antithetic result this clip around, launching a bid Tuesday that helium said volition “Make Michigan Great Again.”

“I’ve protected radical my full life, fought and bushed the worst of the worst,” Cox said successful a run video announcing his run. “Let’s not basal by and fto extremist politicians oregon woke bureaucrats undermine america immoderate longer.”

Cox joins Michigan Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt and U.S. Rep. John James successful the Republican primary. On the Democratic side, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II are facing off, with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan — formerly a Democrat — moving arsenic an independent.

Republicans are aiming to retake the governor’s bureau aft 8 years nether Whitmer, who held afloat Democratic power of the Legislature from 2022 to 2024 and swiftly precocious her party’s agenda. The GOP regained the authorities House successful 2024, but some legislative chambers volition beryllium up for grabs adjacent year.

Cox served arsenic a U.S. Marine Corps infantry rifleman earlier becoming a prosecutor, according to his run website. He defeated Democratic Sen. Gary Peters successful 2002 to go the state's archetypal Republican lawyer wide successful implicit 40 years.

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