Mike Cox Stands Alone at MEA Forum, Pledges to Opt-In to Trump Tax Credits

DETROIT, Mich. — All major candidates for governor were invited to participate in the Michigan Education Association’s candidate forum today. Only one Republican had the guts to show up and speak truth about the failures of Michigan’s education system while three Democratic candidates defended the status quo under Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

“I know Im not going to be endorsed by the MEA,” Cox said in his opening remarks. “But you represent so many other teachers, families, communities, and I want to talk about education.”

See Mike Cox’s Opening Statement Below:

“While the three Democrats Jocelyn Benson, Mike Duggan, and Chris Swanson pledged to continue the Whitmer status quo of more spending for worse results, I laid out a reform-focused agenda centered on fundamentals that work: opting Michigan into President Trump’s federal school choice tax credit, restoring phonics-based reading instruction, enforcing third-grade reading requirements, expanding early intervention and tutoring for struggling kindergartners, and providing real classroom coaching and support for teachers.”

”Mississippi has already embraced this blueprint. That’s how they went from 49th to 9th in 4th grade literacy, while Michigan sank from 31st to 48th, all while spending less money than we do.”

Cox also criticized the absence of other Republican candidates, calling leadership a willingness to defend principles anywhere and to anyone.

“They may not have liked everything I had to say, but status quo thinking is exactly why Michigan continues to fall behind,” Cox said. “When I’m Governor, we’re going to put students first, focus on literacy and accountability, and Make Michigan Education Great Again.”