SAUGATUCK, Mich. (AP) – Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox officially announced his candidacy for the 2026 governor’s race on Tuesday, joining a growing number of Republicans aiming to replace the term-limited Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Cox, who served as attorney general from 2003 to 2011, previously entered the gubernatorial race towards the end of his second term. However, he finished third in the Republican primary at that time. With renewed determination, Cox launched his current campaign with the slogan “Make Michigan Great Again,” expressing hopes for a more favorable outcome.
In a campaign video accompanying his announcement, Cox emphasized his commitment to protecting the citizens of Michigan. “I’ve protected people my entire life, fought and beat the worst of the worst,” he stated. He also criticized “radical politicians or woke bureaucrats” for undermining the state, urging voters not to stand by and let such forces prevail.
Cox's announcement adds to a competitive Republican primary, which already includes Michigan Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt and U.S. Representative John James. On the Democratic side, the race features Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. Notably, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who previously identified as a Democrat, is running as an independent candidate.
Republican candidates are eager to reclaim the governor's office after an eight-year tenure under Whitmer's administration, which successfully advanced a Democratic agenda during the party's complete control of the Legislature from 2022 to 2024. While the GOP regained control of the state House in 2024, both legislative chambers will be contested in the upcoming election.
Mike Cox has a notable background; he served as a U.S. Marine Corps infantry rifleman before transitioning to a career in law as a prosecutor. According to his campaign website, Cox made history in 2002 by defeating Democratic Senator Gary Peters, becoming Michigan's first Republican attorney general in over four decades.
As the race for the 2026 Michigan governorship begins to take shape, the candidates are poised to define their platforms and appeal to voters in the months ahead, marking a significant political contest in the state.
