Latest news with #JohnJames
Politico
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Trump to ambitious House Republicans: Hold the line
TOP LINE President Donald Trump is doing everything he can to keep GOP control of the House, and it's coming at the expense of some of the chamber's most ambitious members. It started in March, when Trump abruptly yanked Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.)'s nomination to serve as ambassador to the United Nations. But in recent weeks, the president has also played an important role in stymieing efforts from vulnerable House Republicans who were looking to seek higher office in 2026. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.) is still considering a Senate bid, but that's much to the ire of Trump's top advisers and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, who have gone all-in backing former Rep. Mike Rogers for the seat. Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) was seriously considering a run for governor, until a meeting with Trump ended in a social media post from the president endorsing his reelection to the House. 'Just spoke to Great Combat Veteran Zach Nunn, and he is committed to the mission of, HOLDING THE MAJORITY,' Trump said on Truth Social earlier this month, before Nunn had announced any decision. The moves underscore the importance of maintaining Republicans' razor-thin majority for Trump's final years in office, and for the most part, the House Republicans are falling in line. 'After prayerful consideration with his family and the strong support from President Trump, Zach is more committed than ever to maintaining the Republican majority and advancing the America First Agenda,' a spokesperson for Nunn said when he made the decision. Some, however, have not. Rep. John James (R-Mich.) launched a bid for governor without Trump's endorsement, and the president made his displeasure clear. 'John James, John James,' Trump said at a June bill signing. 'I don't know; you know he's running for governor, but I'm not sure I'm happy about that, John. Do we have somebody good to take your seat? Because otherwise we're not letting him run for governor.' The next potential target on Trump's chopping block? Battleground New York Rep. Mike Lawler, who has been flirting with a bid for governor. 'I'm going to be meeting with the president at some point soon and have a conversation about the path forward,' Lawler told NewsNation last week. 'But one way or the other, we need to have a united front — whether it's me, whether it's Elise Stefanik — we need to be focused on defeating Kathy Hochul.' It's not just about keeping members in the House. The White House also pushed for Texas' mid-decade redistricting, which could net as many as five seats for Republicans. There's action on the Senate side, too. Trump's team met with Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) last week, as some Republicans brace for her potential retirement. Happy Monday. Reach me: ahoward@ or @andrewjfhoward. Days until the AZ-07 general: 64 Days until the TN-07 primary: 78 Days until the 2025 election: 106 Days until the midterms: 472 Want to receive this newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You'll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day's biggest stories. CAMPAIGN INTEL POLLING CORNER — FIRST IN SCORE: The Democratic Governors Association commissioned two polls in Virginia and New Jersey following the passage of the megabill, and both showed that upcoming Medicaid and SNAP cuts were underwater with voters. Now, the DGA is using that polling to hit GOP gubernatorial nominees Winsome Earle-Sears and Jack Ciattarelli. In both polls, 53 percent of voters said they 'prefer a governor who opposes' the recently passed legislation. In Virginia, 55 percent of surveyed voters said they had 'serious concerns' about Earle-Sears' support — a number that rose to 59 percent for Ciattarelli in New Jersey, according to a memo from the DGA shared exclusively with Score. 'The races for governor in Virginia and New Jersey in November will be voters' first opportunity to reject Trump's harmful budget bill – and the GOP nominees will not be able to run from their record of supporting these deeply unpopular Medicaid cuts,' the memo said. Both polls were done by Public Policy Polling. The New Jersey poll surveyed 541 registered voters from July 9-10 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percent. The Virginia poll surveyed 582 registered voters over the same time period and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent. NH SENATE — FIRST IN SCORE II: Remember when the Trump administration called the EB-5 visas 'ridiculous'? Well, New Hampshire Senate candidate Scott Brown, who often talks about the importance of pushing back against China, once went to China to tout that very program, our Daniel Lippman reports. In October 2015, Brown attended the Overseas Investment and Entrepreneurship Summit in Beijing, meeting with business leaders there. He wrote in a Fox Business op-ed days later that 'the primary focus of many of my meetings was the success of, and continuation of the EB-5 Investment Program,' which provided visas to foreigners investing in the U.S. He said the program 'should be re-authorized immediately' and that criticism of it 'has even me scratching my head.' In a statement to Score, Brown said he supports 'the recent oversight effort by Congress into potential abuses into the EB-5 program.' 'A lot has changed globally in the decade since that trip, including my time serving as President Trump's ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa where I regularly supported the administration's long overdue efforts to crack down on Communist China's rule breaking,' Brown said. 'I commend the recent oversight effort by Congress into potential abuses into the EB-5 program and look forward to supporting President Trump's efforts to crack down on China in the Senate.' Democratic candidate Rep. Chris Pappas supported a bill in two congressional sessions that would have removed the per-country cap on EB-5 visas, which would have benefited people in countries including China who were trying to get such a visa. DNC 2024 AUTOPSY — The New York Times' Reid J. Epstein and Shane Goldmacher report that the DNC's much-anticipated 2024 election report will not touch on some key moments from the trail, like President Joe Biden's choice to drop out, or the question of whether Vice President Kamala Harris was his best replacement. The report's omission of some of these key moments — Epstein and Goldmacher write — 'is something like eating at a steakhouse and then reviewing the salad.' MORE FROM 2024 — 'Local Democratic candidates say that they didn't receive the institutional support their campaigns needed in 2024, as the Democratic ecosystem poured money and resources into topline contests like the presidential race,' Campaigns and Elections' Max Greenwood reports. 'A survey of nearly 1,000 local Democratic hopefuls conducted by the Pipeline Fund, a group that provides funding and support to progressive candidates, found that nearly half of respondents – 49 percent – said they received only some, very little or none of the help that they needed for their campaigns last year.' IOWA SENATE — Despite recent worries over her potential retirement, Sen. Joni Ernst is dismissing the fears as 'chitter chatter,' according to Radio Iowa's O. Kay Henderson. 'There's always all kinds of chitter chatter everywhere, but I have a lot left to do in the United States Senate, so I am not slowing down any time soon. We'll have an announcement this fall,' Ernst said. 2028 WATCH — 'Democrats in South Carolina are barely pretending they're not already running for president,' my colleagues Brakkton Booker and Elena Schneider report. EPSTEIN FALLOUT — 'The unlikely alliance of the populist left and right has strengthened over the Jeffrey Epstein controversy,' POLITICO's Liz Crampton, Holly Otterbein and Daniel Desrochers reported over the weekend. IN TEXAS — 'Joe Rogan's Latest Guest Might Turn Texas Blue,' my colleague Adam Wren reports. 'When we got the email invitation, I originally thought it was a phishing scam. But we called them and realized it was legit, and it was a surprise,' Democratic Texas state Rep. James Talarico told Adam. CODA — QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'It's all or nothing. We either win or even I will move to Florida. God forbid!' said former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, on his general election mayoral bid.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump, Noem, Powell and Democrats: 5 takeaways from the Hill Nation Summit
Wednesday's Hill Nation Summit was packed with lawmakers and major figures on both sides of the aisle, and made clear that President Trump has an iron grip on the Republican Party. Republican speakers were notably deferential to and confident in Trump, while Democrats struggling to coalesce around a strategy to come back from their crushing 2024 defeat outlined their own ideas. Here are five takeaways from the summit. Trump is king for GOP Six months into Trump's second term, it is clear that his grip on other Republicans is the strongest it's ever been. Republicans at the Hill Nation Summit gave the president high marks for his term so far — and resisted any hint at criticism. Rep. John James (R-Mich.), who is running for governor, declined to criticize Trump's tariffs despite representing an area heavily dependent on auto manufacturing. 'I have every reason to believe, when I talk to people in my district who are saying, 'We're getting more business than we've ever gotten before' … that's a result of President Trump, a businessman who knows what he's doing,' James said. House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said there was a 'huge distinction' between former President Biden's policies around social media and Trump's pressure campaign on major law firms. 'It's not censorship,' Jordan said, arguing that the firms were not directed to take down particular posts or speech from their websites. House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) said that the pressure Trump exerts on members is actually helpful to help unify Republicans in Congress. 'I think too often we're all carrot and no stick. And I think in life in general, and in business, to many audience members, I think you have to have equal parts carrot and stick, and that's generally the best way to incentivize the outcomes and the behavior we want,' Arrington said. Trump is winning, and his first six months back in office have underscored his willingness to hit back hard at his opponents in either party. The remarks from Republicans on Wednesday suggested they like the winning. But Republicans also aren't interested, for the most part, in getting on the president's bad side. Powell's future hangs over event Did we just say something about staying on Trump's good side? One person who isn't on his good side is Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who is under a severe pressure campaign from the president. In the first hour of the confab, Peter Navarro, the White House senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, unloaded on Powell at the summit, labeling him the 'worst Fed chair in history' — without, notably, calling for his ouster. 'All I want is a Fed chair who understands how economies work, and Powell ain't that,' he said. 'We're in the endgame now for Powell.' During the event, reports surfaced that Trump, during an Oval Office meeting with House Republicans on Tuesday, indicated that he would likely fire Powell 'soon,' according to a senior White House official. Trump later said it was 'not true' and 'highly unlikely,' but noted 'I don't rule out anything.' One of the GOP lawmakers in the meeting, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), sat down for an interview at the Hill Nation Summit shortly after. Donalds refused to disclose details from the gathering — 'I'm not going to get into the details of that conversation' — but notably said he was not, and likely would never be, in favor of pushing out Powell. 'I'm not there yet, but I'll tell you that the president doesn't rule anything out,' Donalds said. 'It's pretty clear the president is frustrated about where short-term interest rates are.' 'I think the greater issue is Congress being smart with the people's money,' he added. Asked if he would ever get to a place where he believes Powell should be fired, Donalds responded: 'For me, probably won't get to that point.' Democrats debate how to make comeback Democrats attending the Hill Nation Summit all had something to say about how their party can make a comeback and regain power in Washington. But there were some differences over how to do so. Activist David Hogg, 25, who has sought to pressure his party into shifting toward the left and allowing a new generation of leaders to take hold, said it is vital for his party to make big changes. He joked that he was confident he'd eventually win out since he'd 'outlive' many of those on the other side of the debate, and more seriously compared the Democratic Party to the Soviet Union when it came to aging leaders holding on. Other speakers, such as Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.), said they thought age was overrated, even as they said the party needed to rethink some things. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said that one of the problems Democrats are facing is that 'we were way too judgmental' of people who voted for President Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Khanna, a prominent House progressive, recently visited South Carolina, a crucial stop on the road to the Democratic presidential nomination, but said he hadn't made a decision on running for president in 2028. 'Whether I run or whether I get behind someone and have a network that can then support them, I haven't decided,' Khanna said. 'But I do know this: The Democratic Party has not had a compelling economic vision for years. I have a compelling economic vision.' Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) said his state's governor, Gavin Newsom, would be a great 2028 candidate. He also predicted Republicans would pay for their 'big, beautiful' bill's cuts to Medicaid, noting Sen. Josh Hawley's (R-Mo.) bill seeking to undo parts of the legislation's Medicaid provisions. 'One thing the bill does is for any Republican that's been saying, 'Oh, these weren't actually cuts to Medicaid,' it shows a lie to that,' Lieu said at the Hill Nation Summit. 'Our messaging is, if you want to elect the same person who voted for the cuts, you can do that, or you can elect a Democrat that's going to stop the cuts.' And while Hogg was pushed out of his unpaid role at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) earlier this year, he said he is still interested in working with the committee in the future, adding that he still has a 'good' relationship with the DNC Chair Ken Martin. 'There's obviously disagreements that we have at the end of the day, but I think that we all still have good relationships. I still have, you know, enormous respect for all my fellow vice chairs, for the other officers of the DNC,' Hogg said. McCarthy opens door to return to politics Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who has joined the speech-giving circuit since he was ousted from the Speakership and left Congress, had previously ruled out taking a role in the Trump administration — but he cracked that door back open at the Hill Nation Summit. Asked if he would be open to serving in the Trump administration or another governmental role, McCarthy said: 'Oh, yeah. I talk to the president often. I will do whatever I can to help this president, I will do whatever I can to help this country be successful.' But McCarthy indicated he is happy, at least for now, with being outside the government. 'I think there's things I do now that do that in a way that I don't have to take a paycheck from the government, I think that's more helpful to the taxpayer,' McCarthy said. 'I don't have to go back into government — but I will always help individuals.' Noem defends, attacks and surprises The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a large enterprise that gives its secretary, Kristi Noem, power and influence over a host of issues. At Wednesday's summit, that was underlined as Noem defended the administration's record, went on offense on immigration and surprised, at least a bit, with some news on security at airports. Noem, commenting on the immigration raid on a California marijuana farm where protesters clashed with federal officers, said, 'We will go places where we know there are known criminals, where we've built a case to go get those individuals.' That signaled Noem and the administration have no intention of backing down on an issue that has been a huge strength of Trump's, though the 'known criminals' part of Trump's wording could also suggest the administration will be less focused on migrants without criminal records who may be working on farms. Noem separately said the Trump administration might not spend all of the money allocated to it to build a wall on the southern border. That funding was included in the tax and spending megabill earlier this month. She said the funding might not need to be spent given the significant drop in border-crossing numbers since President Trump came into office. 'Maybe you don't need all that money for the wall because we've done such a great job securing the border. We'll look at all of that,' Noem told NewsNation's Blake Burman. Noem separately suggested changes could be coming to the size of liquid containers allowed for passengers boarding flights in the United States. Noem said such changes were one of the things the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which reports to Noem, is weighing. 'But I will tell you — I mean the liquids — I'm questioning. So that may be the next big announcement is what size your liquids need to be,' Noem told Burman. 'We're looking at, you know, our scanners.' Noem's comments came about a week after her department, which oversees the TSA, announced travelers flying domestically will be allowed to keep their shoes on while passing through TSA screening. Currently, liquids such as juices, bottled water and coffee as well as aerosols, creams, gels and pastes all less than 3.4 ounces are allowed in carry-on bags. Noem spoke about streamlining the experience for domestic travelers at airports, revealing that DHS is in discussion with 'several' companies about making it happen 'Well, hopefully the future of an airport where I'm looking to go is that you walk in the door with your carry-on suitcase, you walk through a scanner and go right to your flight,' Noem said Wednesday, adding that it could take just 'one' minute to get to the gate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Michigan Republicans cheer, Democrats jeer passage of Trump's 'big, beautiful' bill
With a 218-214 vote in the U.S. House on the afternoon of July 3rd, President Donald Trump got his wish: passage of his "big, beautiful bill" cutting taxes, reducing spending and raising the nation's debt limit considerably. Michigan's seven Republican U.S. House members voted for it. The state's six Democratic House members voted against, decrying new restrictions on Medicare and food stamps, as well as the continuation of tax cuts they argue favor the wealthy and corporations more than working- and lower-income Americans. Here are some of the reactions to the passage of the legislation that now heads to Trump's desk to be signed into law: Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: 'Republicans in the U.S. House passed a reckless bill that threatens the health, security and economic stability of millions — including hundreds of thousands of Michiganders who stand to lose their Medicaid coverage, and countless working families who rely on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps) to put food on the table. Nearly 15,000 Michiganders sent stories to me about how these cuts will devastate their lives... Today's vote shows those Republicans ignored their constituents, leaving them with higher costs and without the health care they'll need." U.S. Rep. (and gubernatorial candidate) John James, R-Shelby Township: "Today I voted yes... because it delivers on the promises President Trump and Republicans made in 2024... We're cutting taxes on tips and overtime, protecting Social Security, rebuilding American manufacturing and putting an end to handouts for illegal immigrants and able-bodied adults who won't work. This bill secures our border, strengthens our economy and keeps our word to the American people." U.S. Rep. (and U.S. Senate candidate) Haley Stevens, D-Birmingham: "I voted no on Donald Trump's billionaire tax handout for the people of Michigan who will have their healthcare taken away, food assistance stripped away, investments in manufacturing eliminated, and will be put further at risk due to rural hospitals shuttering... I will continue to stand up to this Administration every single day, until we finally see a deal that works for Michigan and the people I care so deeply about." U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton: "Last November, 77 million people demanded change. Today, House Republicans delivered on that mandate to reverse four years of failed Democrat policies and extend the successful Trump tax cuts, which put more money back into the pockets of working families and empowered small businesses." U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor: 'Why would anyone vote for this big bad bill? It is one of the most consequential, devastating, dangerous bills Congress has passed in recent history. It is going to rip health care away from 17 million people, make the biggest cuts to food assistance ever and ensure the poorest Americans get poorer while the richest get even richer." U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Bruce Township: 'This historic legislation delivers real results for Michigan families and businesses. This bill will create more opportunities for our local businesses to thrive and help hardworking Michiganders keep more of what they earn. We just avoided the largest tax increase in American history, reduced burdensome regulations, protected our most vulnerable citizens by sustaining Medicaid, and unleashed American energy. We are leaving behind Joe Biden's disastrous economic policies. Under President Trump's leadership, the golden age of America has just started.' More: Trump administration has moved to freeze $6.8 billion in education funds nationwide U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit: 'This bill is an act of violence against our communities. At a time of extreme income and wealth inequality, while 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, this budget is absolutely devastating for the working families we represent. Trump's big budget betrayal will kick 17 million Americans off their health care, including over 450,000 people in Michigan, by making the largest cut to Medicaid in history. Republicans should be ashamed of themselves for saying the people losing their health care will just 'get over it' because 'we're all going to die.'" U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Holland Township: 'This bill makes significant progress to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse from both SNAP and Medicaid by implementing work requirements for able-bodied individuals without dependents. These commonsense reforms will preserve these important safety net programs for those who need it most — namely, low-income mothers, children, the elderly, and disabled Americans... I look forward to President Trump signing this legislation, delivering a massive win for hardworking Americans, and putting America back on track for an age of prosperity.' U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City: 'I voted no on Republicans' extreme package because life is already too expensive for Michigan families, and this bill is going to make it worse. Working families will lose their health care, children will go hungry, and our seniors will lose access to long-term care, all to pay for massive tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy. Everybody will see daily costs go up like health care, utility bills, and food to help (billionaires) Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos make more money.' U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte: "I joined my colleagues in passing the one, big, beautiful bill to prevent the largest tax hike in American history, lower energy costs and permanently secure our border – all while protecting the integrity of Medicaid and SNAP for those who need them most. This legislation will create thousands of good-paying jobs to boost our economy, ensure the middle class keeps more money in their pockets, and invest in a brighter future for America. It also delivers on promises made to hardworking families and businesses in Michigan: no tax on tips or overtime, permanent tax relief, an expanded Child Tax Credit, and more." U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids: 'I just voted no on (the bill) for the good people of west Michigan — for our health care, for our children, for our farmers, for our seniors, for our veterans and for each and every one of you. You need no further evidence of how disastrous this bill will be than the narrow margin by which it passed and the hours upon hours that it took House Republicans to be convinced that this bill was good for their constituents." More: Passed at last: 6 Things to Know About Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Caledonia: "Michiganders can now be confident their taxes will not be raised at the end of the year, and that their tax dollars will not be used to pad the bottom line of Chinese companies (with the inclusion of Moolenaar's provision prohibiting companies affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party from receiving energy production tax credits) The one, big, beautiful bill is a win for Michigan families." U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Detroit: "This big, ugly bill will cause 17 million people to lose access to healthcare, and take food off the table for 2 million more, all to give billionaires yet another tax break. My district has the fourth-highest SNAP participation rate in the country at 29%, and 47% of our district relies on Medicaid to get the healthcare they need to survive. My decision to vote no on this bill was the easiest I've had as an elected official, as these cuts will deeply harm every single person in my congressional district." Contact Todd Spangler: tspangler@ Follow him on X @tsspangler. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Republicans cheer, Democrats jeer passage of sweeping Trump bill
Associated Press
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Former Michigan House speaker joins increasingly crowded GOP primary for Michigan governor
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A former GOP state lawmaker who served as speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives is joining a crowded bench seeking the Republican nomination for the 2026 gubernatorial race in the battleground state. Tom Leonard, who served in the state Legislature from 2013 to 2018, announced his bid for governor Tuesday. He joins three other Republicans in the state who are seeking the office and likely also the endorsement of President Donald Trump. Leonard ran for attorney general in Michigan twice, losing to Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel in the 2018 general election by 3 percentage points and to conservative attorney Matthew DePerno in the 2022 GOP primary. He served as the Michigan House chamber's top lawmaker from 2017 to 2018. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is now term-limited and cannot run again. Candidates from both parties — and one in between — have lined up to replace her. On the Republican side, Leonard joins the field that includes U.S. Rep. John James, former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox and state Senate Leader Aaric Nesbitt. The three have closely aligned their campaigns to Trump's 'Make America Great Again' vision. In a video advertisement announcing his campaign, Leonard focused on affordability and education. While the video showed a headline of Trump tapping Leonard as U.S. attorney in 2019, Leonard said, 'As President Trump protects his border, I'll have his back.' However, Leonard was never confirmed for the position due to objections from Michigan's two Democratic senators. On the Democratic side, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson are competing for the nomination. And finally, the longtime Democratic mayor of Detroit Mike Duggan is running for governor, but as an independent. Nationwide, midterm elections tend to favor the party not in power, which could boost the Democratic nominee in 2026. But in recent memory in Michigan, the governor's office has flipped to the opposite party every time there has been an open race.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Benson launches statewide town hall, conversation tour
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democratic candidate for governor, speaks during a panel promoting her book at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Mich., on May 28, 2025, the second day of the Mackinac Policy Conference. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson will visit more than a dozen cities and counties across Michigan starting next week for town halls and conversation with residents as she traverses the gubernatorial primary campaign trail. That includes stops in Traverse City, Muskegon, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Benton Harbor, Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, Warren, Flint, Saginaw, Marquette and Detroit. Benson, one of several 2026 Democratic gubernatorial primary candidates, also plans to visit locations in Manistee, Berrien and Wayne counties. Other Democrats vying for the nomination include Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, while Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, a longtime Democrat, is running as an independent. Republican candidates include Michigan Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-Porter Township), U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township), former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, Genesee County truck driver Anthony Hudson and Traverse City native Evan Space. In a news release, Benson's campaign said the tour will espouse her 'Thrive in Michigan' agenda, focusing on ways the secretary of state, if elected as governor, plans to make Michigan the best place to raise a kid, afford a home, attain a world-class education and where residents don't have to choose between paying their bills and paying for groceries. 'People in Michigan are looking for a real vision to combat the economic threats coming out of Washington D.C. They want leaders who will hear them, listen to and see their struggles, and then work together to solve real problems to save them time and money,' Benson said in a statement. 'That's why I'm running for governor – to make sure government shows up where you need it, and stays out of where you don't.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
