With Michigan governor's mansion receiving a new tenant next year, five of its potential occupants spoke on a nearby conference panel hosted by the Michigan Press Association April 23, 2026.
The discussion, held at Governor Gretchen Whitmer's alma mater, took place in the Michigan State University Kellogg Center as journalism professionals from around the state took notes over lunch. Detroit News Reporter Craig Mauger moderated the panel and asked a series of questions that ranged from infrastructure to government transparency. Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox (R), businessman Perry Johnson (R), state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R) and Pastor Ralph Rebandt (R) were joined on stage by a single Democrat – Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson.
Mauger began by noting the absences of current frontrunners U.S. Rep. John James (R), Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) and former mayor of Detroit Mike Duggan (I), whose representatives told the MPA that their candidates had prior obligations or were unavailable. Benson's absence at the conference did not spare her from jabs across the board; Throughout the forum, the Republican candidates repeatedly criticized her on a range of issues. Mauger, at one point, referenced former Michigan speaker of the house Tom Leonard, who dropped out the morning of the event.
Mauger made use of the news about Leonard to ask the candidates about their views on his campaign promise to open the governor's office to Freedom of Information Act requests – something Whitmer had also promised to do during her 2018 campaign, but has not since followed through on. All five candidates made the same affirmative promise, though Swanson qualified his answer by clarifying that public safety, national security and the disclosure of proprietary issues needed to be considered within that context. Swanson, Nesbitt and Rebandt criticized the idea of nondisclosure agreements, with Rebandt saying that anyone in his administration who signed one would be immediately fired by the authority of an executive order. All candidates also voiced their support for public notices in newspapers.
When the topic turned to data centers, the conversation became more nuanced. Cox and Swanson suggested that local communities should decide for themselves whether development projects proceed in their cities, while Johnson and Nesbitt advocated for regulation reform. Only Rebandt said outright that he was against data centers due to environmental and noise concerns.
When asked by an audience member how they would ensure affordable housing for younger families, Johnson, Nesbitt and Rebandt reinforced their commitments to tax cuts. Cox advocated for reform in building codes and application fee deadlines, as well as an increase in housing supply. Swanson suggested that housing co-ops could provide a unique solution, and pointed to past developments in Marquette.
Cuts to income and property taxes were repeatedly pledged by Republican candidates throughout the debate. Mauger posed a question asking how these policies could be compatible with the expenses needed to take on infrastructure problems like the recent flooding complicated by stressed dams. Swanson said the two concepts were, in fact, incompatible, and that money could ultimately be saved by taking preventative action against such disasters. Rebandt suggested that local governments within Michigan should take more initiative, and also voiced support for stricter oversight for privately owned dams. Cox echoed Rebandt's push for private oversight, and said that a reformed approach to the budget could successfully coexist with tax cuts. Johnson emphasized spending discipline for the existing budget, while Nesbitt primarily focused his answer on the cost of living.
Throughout the forum, the audience of journalists largely listened in silence, prompting a playful observation from Mauger; "I don't have to tell the crowd not to applaud," he said, drawing a laugh from the crowd.
