PONTIAC, Mich. – We’re just days away from the primary, and the five Michigan Republican candidates for governor are pushing for your vote Wednesday night as they go head-to-head in their final debate.
So far, the field has remained relatively close in the polling, especially between Tudor Dixon and Kevin Rinke.
But many voters are still undecided heading into the primary on Tuesday (Aug. 2).
In past matchups, the five candidates have focused on each other, but there was only one opponent in the room Wednesday night.
“Gretchen Whitmer’s biggest problem thinks she’s the smartest person in the room, and she’s unable to admit when she’s wrong,” said Dixon.
Read: Michigan GOP gubernatorial candidates debate in Grand Rapids
Dixon, who has drawn fire from her counterparts in the past, was left untouched Wednesday night to the point she had to bring it up.
“Even my opponents on this stage would say I’m the best person because they’re attacking me as well,” Dixon said. “Kevin Rinke changed his ads from being pro-Kevin Rinke to being against Tudor Dixon.”
Rinke and Dixon are within the margin of error of each other.
The Rinke that took the stage Wednesday night focused more on his strengths and policy proposals.
“What a leader does is what I propose,” said Rinke. “You eliminate the personal income tax. You give the people back $12 billion of their own dollars.”
When Dixon presented herself as the one to beat, he went on offense.
“You just listened to our version of Gretchen Whitmer,” Rinke said.
Read: Michigan GOP gubernatorial candidates square off
Garrett Soldano and Ryan Kelley refrained from attacking Dixon and instead pushed their narrative that they are the choice of the grassroots.
“I have the people that are 100% behind me,” said Kelley.
“There are a lot of shenanigans going on behind the scenes with our establishment trying to bring down these candidates who are backed by the people,” said Soldano.
Ralph Rebandt used his calling as a pastor.
“There’s one person we haven’t sent to Lansing yet, and that’s a pastor,” said Rebandt. “That’s a pastor who cares about people more than he cares about politics.”
