Five gubernatorial candidates aiming to replace Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in November gathered at the Kellogg Center on Thursday afternoon to discuss affordability and budget cuts facing Michigan State University at a luncheon hosted by the Michigan Press Association.
Republican candidates Mike Cox, Ralph Rebandt, Perry Johnson, Aric Nesbitt and Democratic candidate Chris Swanson were all speakers at the event.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democratic nominee for the 2026 gubernatorial ballot, turned down the luncheon to speak to voters in Detroit. U.S. Rep. John James was unavailable due to being in Washington, D.C., and former Detroit mayor Mike Duggan said he was unavailable, “like the other frontrunners” in the election.
Cox spoke in support of the House Republicans' proposed 62% budget cuts for the upcoming fiscal year. The proposed budget set state appropriations to the university at $208.8 million, compared to the current fiscal year, when MSU received $333.7 million. The budget was approved late Wednesday night.
“Universities need to come to the table, be more transparent if they want state money,” Cox said. “I like the fact that the House Republicans have started the discussion because you shouldn't have to pay the tuition you're paying right now.”
Nesbitt also advocated for trade industries, saying that an entire generation was sold a “lie” that promised a certain standard of living if they went to college.
And Cox, in reference to rising administrative and tuition costs, said “you're not getting a bang for your buck.”
“As governor, I wouldn't roll over for this nonsense from college administrators,” Cox told The State News.
Rebandt told The State News he would consider additional funding cuts for universities that forgo “merit” and “excellence” in favor of diversity, equity and inclusion principles.
“If the government was to simply say we're going to regulate the NBA and have 50% of them be Asians, nobody would win. You know, you can't do that,” Rebandt said in reference to DEI initiatives.
