Article courtesy of MIRS for SBAM’s Lansing Watchdog newsletter
Republican former Attorney General Mike Cox has dropped out of the race for Michigan’s governor.
In a post on X Friday, Cox said President Donald Trump’s endorsement of his opponent, U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township), essentially ended a statistical tie and “ordained” James’ primary victory.
“And while I did not fully appreciate it then, that endorsement placed him out of reach in a three-way Republican primary race,” Cox said. “Several internal polls since June 22nd taught me that lesson.”
Cox’s post said those polls showed the “power” of Trump and the “enduring loyalty of Republican primary voters in Michigan to the President.”
And, he noted, he will do “whatever I can” to help James as well as fellow Republican candidates Anthony Forlini and Doug Lloyd, who seek the Secretary of State and Attorney General’s offices, respectively, win in November.
Cox’s exit leaves James and businessman Perry Johnson fighting for the Republican nomination in the Aug. 4 primary.
“Today I leave the race for Governor with great sadness because I never found a better experience than serving the people of Michigan as I did for 21 years as a prosecutor and Attorney General (and before that, as a Marine),” Cox said. “While I achieved much greater material rewards outside public service, those material rewards can never equal the joy and sense of purpose I felt serving the working men and women of Michigan in public office.”
Cox posted the statement to his campaign website as well.
Johnson said Cox ran a “strong campaign and did an effective job exposing why John James should never be governor.” He said he was “sorry” to see Cox leave the race, but noted it “creates a tremendous opportunity to unite Republicans who do not want John James as our nominee.”
Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson Derrick Honeyman said Cox has “continually” called James a “weak candidate who is only out for himself and has no shot at winning a general election.”
Honeyman added: “Those facts remain, and if Republicans nominate John James on Aug. 4, they will be stuck with a two-time statewide loser who has bear-hugged Donald Trump’s cost-raising policies and lined his own pockets while in D.C. Whether John James or Perry Johnson end up as the Republican nominee, Michigan voters will reject either one in November.”
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