Republican Nominee for Governor, Michigan

By Rebecca J. Horvath, Tennessee

Like many Americans, Tudor Dixon was changed by the coronavirus pandemic. But besides being more protective of her freedoms or more concerned about healthcare options, the changes she experienced may land her in the highest office in the state of Michigan.

In 2020, Tudor lost her beloved grandmother, who died alone in a nursing home - of a broken heart from being locked away from her family, Tudor says - because state restrictions prohibited family members from being present. Ironically, her husband’s grandmother died the same day, alone in a hospital. The policies enacted by current governor Gretchen Whitmer touched a nerve in Tudor, who was spurred to run for office and ensure no other family would suffer the same heartbreak.

Today, Tudor - a member of the Mi Republican Women’s Club of Michigan - is running against Whitmer in one of the country’s most high-profile races.

A former sales executive in the steel industry, Tudor’s career path and outlook changed after she had children; she and her husband, Aaron, are the parents of four girls. Her perspective as a mom has informed her views in every area, especially regarding education. Michigan ranked 38th in the nation even before Covid, but the virus exposed the failures and shortcomings in the education system across the state.

Now, kids are behind in learning after two full years of Covid-related school closures; almost 60 percent of third graders in the state are not reading at grade level. Tudor says, “Michigan has a crisis in education and no one with a solution, outside of Republicans.” The third-grade benchmark is pivotal, she says, “Because from kindergarten to third grade, a child is learning to read. From third grade on, a child reads to learn. You have to have that skill to go on. We have too many children in Michigan being robbed of their education.”

She continues, “We have a huge opportunity to bring education back, to make sure we have parents involved in education, and to make sure we are focused on the basics. Education, to me, is key - it’s our foundation. But also to improve public safety. These are two of the main things people look at when they consider coming to a new state. If we’re failing in those, we’re also not being fair to the people who are already here.”

With violent crime up in several major Michigan cities since 2019 when Whitmer took office, Tudor has earned the endorsements of 22 county sheriffs. She says the incumbent is focused entirely on a constitutional amendment that would guarantee abortion access, while staying silent on all other issues. Tudor, meanwhile, is traveling the state talking to folks about education, public safety, healthcare, and the economy.

“It’s so important to not only get out and vote and vote red down the ticket, but also to talk to other people. There are a lot of people who are on the fence, who are not typical midterm voters. They need to understand the proposals on the ballot and get to the polls. If you don’t vote, your vote doesn’t count!”

Tudor’s experience as a breast cancer survivor also gives her unique insight into the issues facing the healthcare industry - and not just the ones on which Covid shined a light. She’s concerned about the number of professionals leaving their jobs post-Covid and wants to identify ways to incentivize healthcare jobs and better prepare future doctors and nurses.

When it comes to the economy, Tudor says the issues are twofold: both current policies and the pandemic have been catastrophic for small businesses. While health departments were weaponized during Covid - threatening to shut down schools and businesses that didn’t comply with mask mandates - small businesses are still being crushed by the regulations and bureaucracy of the state government. “We believe if we can reduce regulations by forty percent, we will be able to see businesses thrive and see more entrepreneurism. We want to make it easier for all communities to build from within.”

Tudor is ready to be the leader who builds Michigan back to excellence from within. With only a month until the election, she’s working around the clock to connect with voters across the state. Finally, as someone who saw a need and rose to the occasion, Tudor Dixon has a word of encouragement for people who want to improve their communities.

“We have a huge opportunity to make sure we keep the freedoms we’ve always had. It’s the same with the person who runs for school board or city commission or county commission. Anytime you can get involved - even being involved in the election process - you can make a difference.”

Learn more about Tudor's campaign at www.tudordixon.com.