One of the most politically powerful families in Michigan – the DeVos family – is putting their endorsement behind Tudor Dixon to be Michigan’s next governor.
Dick DeVos announced the news on WJR on Monday, May 23. Dixon is one of 10 Republican candidates vying to challenge Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in November.
“We think Tudor – as a business leader, a mom – has the experience, the passion and a plan to put the state back on track,” Dick DeVos said on the Paul W. Smith show.
Dick DeVos ran for governor as a Republican in 2006, losing to incumbent Gov. Jennifer Granholm 56% to 42%. His wife, Betsy DeVos, was the Secretary of Education for President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2021.
“We’ve seen failed leadership once again in our own state,” Dick DeVos said. “We saw it back in 2006 in my view and we’re seeing it again. It’s time for a change in leadership in this state.”
The DeVos family helped found the Amway Corporation, which had $8.5 billion in sales in 2020, per Forbes. The business, headquartered in Ada, sells vitamins, minerals, dietary supplements, skincare products, cosmetics and more. The family also owns the Orlando Magic NBA basketball team.
Dixon was a conservative news anchor for the online news station Real America’s Voice. The University of Kentucky graduate worked in sales in the steel industry before working in media.
Dixon could use the boost in the crowded field – as she has polled poorly so far.
A late March poll of Republican voters in Michigan found she had support of 2.5% of voters, putting her fifth of the seven candidates mentioned in the poll. A late April poll found she had 1.8% of the support, putting her eighth of the 10 candidates – behind people like Michael Brown and Donna Brandenburg.
Dixon was not invited to the Republican debate at next week’s Mackinac Policy Conference because of the low support.
There is a chance Dixon might not be on the Aug. 2 primary ballot at all. The Michigan Democratic Party challenged her petition signatures to qualify, since all of the petitions included the wrong date for the governor term.
The State Board of Canvassers will decide this week if Dixon’s signatures will count or not. James Craig and Perry Johnson’s signatures have also been challenged.
Dick DeVos said he is not worried about the pending challenge.
“I think all of the candidates that are running on the Republican side are, frankly, head and shoulders above our current governor,” Dick DeVos said. “Obviously Team Whitmer is very concerned about Tudor’s candidacy and we’re confident she’s going to prevail in this matter.”
Dixon turned in 29,735 signatures for governor – more than any other Republican. Candidates need at least 15,000 valid signatures to get on the ballot, but were allowed to submit up to 30,000.
Trump has not yet endorsed a candidate for Michigan governor. But Dixon was the only candidate he mentioned by name during his April rally in Michigan – although her mention was brief.
“Now we have a candidate for governor who is very popular, who is a fantastic, brilliant candidate, Tudor Dixon,” Trump said. “Tudor, thank you, Tudor. Thank you. I heard you’re doing well, too.”
Dick DeVos did not talk about any of Dixon’s policies on Monday’s radio appearance, but said Dixon’s young children are among the many victims of Whitmer’s “shutdowns and manipulation.”
The DeVos family isn’t afraid to throw money behind its candidates. Family members gave a combined $850,000 in 2019-2020 to the Better Future MI Fund. The political action committee unsuccessfully tried to oust Democrat Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, from the U.S. Senate in favor of Republican John James, R-Farmington Hills.
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