MUSKEGON, Mich. — It was a rally with constant jokes toward Democratic leaders like President Joe Biden and MI Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Republican hopeful Tudor Dixon was joined by Donald Trump Jr. to make a case on why Whitmer doesn't need a second term.
Endorsed by former President Donald Trump, Dixon defeated a crowded field of Republicans in the Aug. primary to challenge Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in Nov.
The event was held outdoors at the Barclay Place Event Center in Muskegon. Supporters arrived at 4 p.m. on Sept. 23, Friday afternoon.
Before Dixon and Trump took the stage, other candidates and guests took a moment to talk to crowd, which was more than 100 people:
Those speakers were:
- John Gibbs, who is running for District 3’s Congressional seat
- Kristina Karamo, who is pushing to become MI’s next Secretary of State
- Former MI Governor John Engler
- Former presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway
"I know Tudor Dixon is for a Michigan that is safe, a future that's free, parents rights, and a government that's accountable to its citizens," Conway said in her speech at the rally. "They work for you and you're in the position to fire or hire them."
Similar to her rally in Troy earlier Friday, Dixon tore into Whitmer’s positions on crime and education, while making claims that she has hindered job growth and neglected infrastructure across the state.
Dixon criticized a recent commercial featuring Whitmer.
“She says, ‘We all know how important it is to have kids in-person learning.’ How can you even say that?” Dixon asked members of the audience. “How can you even say that when the scores in our school are so low? When you look at what's happening in public school in the state of Michigan, nearly 60 percent of our third graders can't read or write.
“When you ask her what she's going to do about it, she says, ‘I just put record money into our schools,’ and we're thinking she didn't know how to make how inflation works, does she? Because she didn't actually put record money into our schools. Now that the costs are so dang high because she supports Joe Biden's crappy policies as an outside of money, what are you going to do to get our kids back on track now that you locked them down for so long?
“(Whitmer) says, ‘Don't vote for Tudor because she's going to dismantle public ed.’ And I'm like, ‘What are you talking about? You've already done that for two years. We're trying to put public ed back together. Try to fix your mess.’ It's time to make sure there is no wrong path in education for kids in the state of Michigan.”
Dixon also revisited an off-color kidnapping joke she had made in Troy toward Whitmer when she said the governor had been holding businesses “hostage,” but in a more-serious closing, she ended that Whitmer’s “lockdown” response to the Covid-19 pandemic made a severe impact to Michiganders.
“Other states were open,” Dixon said. “Other states said, ‘We trust you – We trust you.’ It’s not our place to shut you down, just be safe. Never forget what she robbed from you in this state.”
Voters rally for Tudor Dixon at Muskegon rally
Dixon recently called for the State Superintendent Michael Rice to resign during a press event at the Michigan Department of Education.
"As Governor, I want to be responsible for the outcomes and held accountable for the results. Today, I am here first and foremost calling for the resignation of State Superintendent Michael Rice," Dixon said before a crowd of parents.
Dixon points to what she says are radical policies being pushed on parents and students by activists.
"We have a school district like Muskegon bragging about how their new middle schools won't have any boys or girls bathrooms, they'll all be gender neutral. Imagine at such a critical age. Maybe you have a stomachache and you go to the bathroom, and your school crush walks in right after you, can we not have a little privacy for our children at such a critical age," Dixon questioned.
13 ON YOUR SIDE reached out to Matthew Cortez, superintendent of Muskegon Public Schools, about her comments. Here's what he said:
As a community school district, we endeavor to represent all of our students and families. We listen to our community's feedback. While there are some that disagree with our decisions, there are others that support our decisions. We are in a time of extreme politics and our public schools have no place in them. We do not educate Republicans or Democrats, we educate every child that comes to our doorstep.
13 ON YOUR SIDE has reached out to her campaign to learn more about the event.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8.
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