Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox is making his case to voters for governor, centering his campaign on three core issues: education, economy, and reversing what he calls Michigan's hemorrhaging population.
Speaking to WDET's Quinn Klinefelter on April 2, Cox outlined a comprehensive plan that would eliminate Michigan's state income tax and implement sweeping education reforms modeled after states he calls successful.
Eliminating the Income Tax
Cox's most significant economic proposal would eliminate Michigan's state income tax, which he says brings in approximately $13 billion annually. He argues that states like Florida, Tennessee, Texas, Wyoming, and Nevada have all abandoned income taxes to foster business growth.
"What are the most dynamic states in the nation right now?" Cox asked. "There's Florida, Tennessee and Texas, like I mentioned, but also Wyoming, New Hampshire, cold weather states, South Dakota, Nevada. What do they all have in common? They all have different economies but they all have no income tax."
Cox says eliminating the income tax would help 900,000 small businesses in Michigan. He argues that the tax burden currently hampers business owners who could instead use those funds to hire employees, purchase equipment, or expand operations.
On the question of how to replace the revenue, Cox said Michigan's government would need to become more efficient. He pointed to his experience as attorney general during the Great Recession, when his office's caseload jumped 10% but his legislature funding was cut.
"When I was elected attorney general in a close statewide race—I was the only Republican to ever beat Democrat Gary Peters—I didn't know we were about to walk into the 'lost decade,'" Cox said. "For seven or eight years we were in a one state recession. And the rest of the country joined us during the Great Recession. As you can imagine, our caseload jumped about 10%. At the same time, each and every year I was getting less money from the legislature. I had to reduce the size of my staff by 21%."
Cox says the state could save money by upgrading technology and squeezing vendors, similar to what Ford, GM, and Chrysler did during the auto industry crisis. He argued that as people move to states without income taxes and businesses expand, revenues would actually grow.
Education Reform
On education, Cox is proposing five specific reforms that he says have turned Mississippi into an education success story despite spending 40% less per child than Michigan.
First, he would require every child to be able to read by third grade. "Across the region, people want their kids to be able to read by the third grade, right?" Cox said. "So, in terms of fixing education, states like Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi are now leading the country and doing it with much less money than we in Michigan spend."
Second, he would make sure every child gets taught phonics the same way. Third, struggling students would receive individual tutoring. Fourth, teachers would receive coaching. And fifth, every public school—including charter schools—would be graded so parents, grandparents, and property taxpayers can see how their local school is performing.
"We can do that," Cox said. "It's doable right now."
Cox's comments came amid a crowded Michigan governor's race. Other Republican candidates include Perry Johnson, who was previously disqualified from the 2022 ballot due to fraudulent signature scandals, and John James, who also faced controversy after being booed at the GOP convention.
Cox emphasized that his background as a prosecutor in Detroit for 13 years before becoming attorney general gives him the experience needed to handle the challenges of running the state.
"Just a generation ago, my parents came to Michigan because it was the greatest state in the greatest nation," Cox said. "They were immigrants, legal immigrants, and literally my dad used to tell us when we were growing up as kids that the streets were paved with gold when he got here. That's how so many generations of Americans have viewed Michigan."
Cox's plan contrasts sharply with current Michigan policies. He criticized Governor Gretchen Whitmer's clean energy plan, calling it "a scam" that has resulted in the highest energy rates in the Midwest. He also pointed to state government spending growth of $31 billion over seven years, arguing this is "killing affordability here in Michigan."
The Three E's
When asked which issues are most important to Michigan voters, Cox focused on what he calls the three "E's": education, employment/economy, and emigration with an "e"—meaning outbound migration.
"Outbound migration, folks leaving us. And that's really a function of education and the economy," Cox explained. "Over the past seven years we've had a state government that's grown by 54%. $31 billion in new spending. And Quinn, that is killing affordability here in Michigan. You overlay that with Gov. Whitmer's clean energy plan, which many, including me, call a scam."
Cox said people are heading south to states like Florida, Tennessee, Texas, Indiana, and Ohio. "I'm not just talking about Florida, Tennessee, Texas. I'm talking about Indiana and Ohio. They're the ones who are picking our pockets."
The Michigan governor's race is set for a primary election this August 4, with the general election in November. Cox has been trying to make his mark in a crowded field, positioning himself as the candidate who understands both the challenges and the potential of Michigan.
His campaign has already drawn attention for its focus on practical policy solutions rather than rhetoric. The elimination of the income tax alone would fundamentally reshape Michigan's budget and could require legislative action even if voters approved it in November.
Cox's plan has attracted attention from both supporters and critics. If enacted, eliminating the state income tax would require constitutional amendment and significant budget restructuring. Meanwhile, his education proposals would require cooperation with a legislature that remains divided between Democrats and Republicans.
As Michigan voters prepare for the spring election season, Cox is making his case that he can lead the state back to what he calls victory, turning around the state's economic and educational decline.