Former Attorney General Mike Cox dropped out of the Republican primary election for governor on Friday, less than three weeks before theAugust 4th election. Cox cited President Trump’s endorsement of Congressman John James for the governor’s seat, which is open because of Governor Gretchen Whitmer being barred from running because of term limits.
In the Republican primary, James will battle businessman Perry Johnson for the nomination, although Cox’s name will still appear on the ballot.
His statement is posted below:
For the past 20 months, as I campaigned across Michigan, people routinely asked me, “aren’t today’s politics so hard and dirty?” I would usually answer, “it was so much harder making payroll on the 15th and 30th of every month”. They would usually smile.
And, if there was more time, I would tell them the other side of the story: about all the great people I met, people who lifted my spirits with kind words or encouragement, people who came to events solely because they wanted to do something to make Michigan more prosperous, safer, help our kids to learn, and to lift Michigan out of its doldrums.
It was all those people who helped me get out of bed each day to take on the world. I am eternally grateful to all of them.
On June 22nd President Trump endorsed John James and lifted him out of a statistical tie with me. And while I did not fully appreciate it then, that endorsement placed him out of reach in a three-way Republican primary race. Several internal polls since June 22nd taught me that that lesson. That is the power of President Trump, and it is a testament to the enduring loyalty of Republican primary voters in Michigan to the President.
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). While I achieved much greater material rewards outside of 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.
As President Trump has endorsed John James and ordained his primary victory, I will do whatever I can to help John James, Tony Forlini, and Doug Lloyd win in November. We need them and the whole Republican team to win and roll back the last 8 years of despair, distress, and decline and return Michigan to greatness. The stakes are simply too high.
Thank you to every volunteer, supporter, donor, friend, and family member who stood with me during this campaign. Most of all, thank you to Laura whose love and support never wavered.
I leave this race with gratitude, optimism, and faith in Michigan’s future because I have met so many women and men of purpose on the campaign who are working to get it done.
Mike Cox
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