Polling Average
50%40%30%20%10%0%
9.3%
37.3%
28.1%
15.2%
5.4%
Michigan Republican Governor nominee?
$239.0K
AUG 5, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleAttorney General
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age64 years old (Dec 30, 1961)
GenderMale
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LocationMichigan
BackgroundAttorney
EducationUniversity of Michigan (undergraduate degree)
Notable personal detailsMichael Anthony Cox is an American attorney and politician who served as Michigan Attorney General from 2003 to 2011. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran and former prosecutor, he was elected attorney general in 2002 and later ran for governor in 2010. In April 2025, he launched a campaign seeking the Republican nomination for governor of Michigan in 2026.
SourcesShowHide
mikecox2026.comapnews.comnaag.orgen.wikipedia.orgmichfb.comcbsnews.comclickondetroit.comeverything.explained.todaywdet.orgsbam.orgdemocraticgovernors.orgmichiganadvance.commikecoxlaw.comaxios.comlegislature.mi.govreview-mag.comwachlerblog.comfoxnews.comwkar.orgourmidland.comlifenews.combridgemi.comleaderpub.comag.state.mi.usmichigandems.comlegislation.ballotpedia.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgcba.ballotpedia.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orggovinfo.govwikidata.orgcongress.govnga.orgballotready.orgjustfacts.votesmart.orgjudiciary.senate.govfec.govepw.senate.govcommons.wikimedia.orgcreativecommons.orgupload.wikimedia.org
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
The candidate advocates eliminating Michigan’s state income tax and cutting taxes for small businesses while reducing government spending and bureaucracy. His platform calls for eliminating the income tax to “end the tax on work” and for broad spending cuts as part of shrinking government.
Healthcare
Mike Cox has opposed the Affordable Care Act and, as Michigan attorney general, joined legal efforts challenging the law; his campaign materials emphasize market-based measures such as prescription drug price transparency rather than support for expanding federal coverage programs.
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Immigration & Border
Supports stronger immigration enforcement and state authority to assist in enforcing immigration laws, including actions to crack down on illegal immigration and backing Arizona’s 2010 law that allowed local officers to question and potentially arrest undocumented immigrants.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Mike Cox has opposed abortion and as Michigan Attorney General defended state abortion restrictions, including appeals to uphold a partial-birth abortion ban; he has received endorsements from anti-abortion groups. His public record shows support for enforcing limits on abortion rather than supporting unrestricted access.
Climate & Energy
Supports prioritizing local control and market-driven decisions on energy and development projects, favors keeping existing fossil-fuel generation (including “clean coal”) operational to provide cheaper energy, and seeks requirements that large developers build dedicated power capacity rather than statewide mandates for renewable transitions. Positions emphasize lower taxes, local permitting, and technology requirements for projects rather than aggressive regulatory climate targets.
Public Safety & Guns
Mike Cox has publicly defended Second Amendment rights, promoted concealed-carry reciprocity, and opposed local handgun bans. His record as Michigan Attorney General includes filing amicus briefs supporting gun-owner rights and actions to expand recognition of Michigan concealed-pistol licenses.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJun 3, 2026
Mike Cox is in the news as a Republican candidate in the 2026 Michigan election cycle, where the governor’s race is shifting after Mike Duggan ended his independent bid. That exit appears to strengthen Democrats and leaves Republicans as underdogs in the race. Michigan is also seeing broader election-law and primary-calendar debates, including proposals on voter ID and moving the primary date, which could shape the campaign environment.
mikecox2026.com+41
Articles
MLM Live Michigan 13 days ago
As governor’s race became a ‘referendum’ on Trump, Duggan’s path to victory evaporated
Negative
CTChicago Tribune3 months ago
Michigan lawmakers debating major changes to when certain elections are held
Neutral
PPOLITICO2 months ago
Republican states are pushing through their own versions of the SAVE America Act
Neutral
TAThe Associated Press2 months ago
Campaign support money grows along with profile of state attorneys general
Neutral
Polls
Michigan Republican Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements
- Fundraising