Right-wing commentator eyeing run for Senate or governor in Michigan
Right-wing commentator Tudor Dixon has said she is considering running for office in Michigan in 2026 but has yet to decide whether to opt for the battleground state's open Senate seat or governor's office.
Dixon, 47, was previously the Republican nominee for governor of the Great Lakes State in 2022 but lost to Democratic incumbent Gretchen Whitmer.
The pundit made her announcement in a statement posted to social media on Tuesday in which she attacked Governor Whitmer by saying she had spent six years 'driving our state into the bottom 10 nationally' and presiding over a 'lost decade.'
'It's time to bring Michigan back and lead once again,' she added, going on to stress the importance of job growth, lowering the cost of living, reviving the state's manufacturing sectors, giving taxpayers value for money and increasing government transparency, without going into specific policy details.
Dixon also praised President Donald Trump, saying he is 'leading the way nationally' by 'delivering on his promises to secure the border, bring manufacturing jobs home and boost energy independence.'
Originally from Naperville, Illinois, Dixon started out as a sales manager in her father's company Michigan Steel Inc, before moving into media after co-founding a conservative news site for students.
She began her career in broadcast in 2018 when she was hired by Real America's Voice to anchor its show America's Voice Live on weekday afternoons.
Following her unsuccessful gubernatorial run, she pivoted to podcasting in 2023 and has hosted The Tudor Dixon Podcast ever since.
She has also frequently guested on Fox News and Fox Business as a contributor.
Dixon had Trump's endorsement during her last campaign, as well as that of other MAGA personalities including Tulsi Gabbard, Elise Stefanik, Richard Grenell and the DeVos family, but nevertheless lost by 10 points to Whitmer, who is now term-limited out of serving again, granting the broadcaster a potential second chance.
She will face competition, however, with Michigan's Republican Senate minority leader, Aric Nesbitt, having also declared his intention to run.
Democrats including Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Lieutenant-Governor Garlin Gilchrist and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson have also already announced, as has Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who will campaign as an independent.
The Senate race will be a battle to succeed the retiring Democrat Gary Peters.
Dixon would have to challenge the former Republican representative Mike Rogers for their party's nomination, with Rogers already moving quickly to hire one of Trump's presidential campaign managers, Chris LaCivita, as an adviser.
Rogers ran for the Senate last year but was narrowly beaten by Democrat Elissa Slotkin.
A mother of four, an evangelical Christian and a breast cancer survivor, Tudor Dixon is also, more surprisingly, an amateur actress who has appeared in a number of low-budget horror films.
Among the entries on her brief IMDB page are a bit part as the victim of cannibal zombies in the film Buddy BeBop vs the Living Dead (2009) and a recurring role as a sword-wielding British vampire in the TV show Transitions: The Series (2010-11).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
All we know on Minnesota shooting as FBI hunts suspect who killed politician
The FBI has named Vance Boelter, 57, as the suspect who used a false badge and police uniform to trick his way into Democrat Melissa Hortman and her husband's home in Minnesota, before gunning them down A huge manhunt is underway for a gunman who impersonated a police officer and gunned down lawmakers in a "politically motivated assassination." Democrat Melissa Hortman, 55, and her husband were shot dead at their home early on Saturday morning in Brooklyn Park, a city near Minneapolis. John Hoffman, 60, also a Democrat, and his wife were shot at their home just nine miles away in a related attack, according to police. John and Yvette Hoffman each underwent surgery, according to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. 'We are cautiously optimistic they will survive this assassination attempt,' he said at a news conference. A massive search is underway for suspect, Vance Boelter, 57, who was dressed like a uniformed officer and operating a vehicle that "looked exactly like an SUV squad car, as it was equipped with lights, emergency lights, and looked exactly like a police vehicle," Police Chief Mark Bruley said. A chilling image of a man believed to Boelter wearing a horror movie-style latex mask was issued. Cops exchanged gunfire with him at Hortman's home, but he managed to flee on foot. The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for any information relating to the suspect. Mr Bruley said police are undergoing an "extensive manhunt" alongside the FBI, SWAT and hundreds of police officers to find Boelter, who remains at large. Cops have warned people in the area not to answer their door for a police officer, unless there are two together. President Donald Trump issued a statement on the shooting, saying, "such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America," and authorities would be "prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law". Are the shootings 'politically motivated'? Minnesota Governor Tim Walz believes the suspect targeted the politicians in their home in a "politically motivated assassination." According to the New York Times, Boelter stated his political affiliation as "none or other" and had "no party preference." However, he had a list of around 70 lawmakers, including Democrat Tina Smith, and community leaders, doctors, and IVF clinics. His roommate, David Carlson, said Boelter was anti-abortion and a devout Christian. He also claimed the suspect was a big supporter of Donald Trump. Authorities said the suspect had anti-Donald Trump "No Kings" flyers in his car, raising fears he could have intended to attack those rallies. The military parade was held on Trump's birthday and timed to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US Army. He warned that any protests at the parade would be met with "heavy force". Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said: "When we did a search of the vehicle, there was a manifesto that identified many lawmakers and other officials. We immediately made alerts to the state. We took action on alerting them and providing security where necessary." Bob Jacobson, the state's commissioner of public safety, called the shootings a "dark day" for Minnesota and said politicians have been "targeted in a violent and cowardly way." Who is the suspect? The FBI named Vance Boelter, 57, as the main suspect, who remains at large. Police responded to reports of gunfire at the Hoffmans' home shortly after 2am on Saturday and found the couple with multiple gunshot wounds. After seeing who the victims were, police sent officers to proactively check on Hortman's home. There, they encountered what appeared to be a police vehicle and a man dressed as an officer at the door, leaving the house. 'When officers confronted him, the individual immediately fired upon the officers who exchanged gunfire, and the suspect retreated back into the home' and escaped on foot, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said. The suspect drove a vehicle that looked remarkably similar to an SUV police car, he added. Boelter texted friends at a Minneapolis residence, where he had rented a room and would stay one or two nights a week, to say he had 'made some choices,' the Minnesota Star Tribune reported. In the messages read to reporters, Boelter did not specify what he had done but said: 'I'm going to be gone for a while. May be dead shortly, so I just want to let you know I love you guys both and I wish it hadn't gone this way. … I'm sorry for all the trouble this has caused.' Why has the FBI released a creepy image of a masked man? The FBI, which is offering a $50,000 reward for Boelter, has released new images of a masked man with a flashlight as part of its search for the suspect. The new pictures display an individual wearing what seems to be a rubber or silicone disguise resembling a white man, outfitted in gear similar to that worn by police officers. The guise featured in the photos divulged by the FBI also bears a resemblance to a mask sported by Ryan Gosling in the 2011 movie "Drive." These photos were released as part of an appeal to trace Boelter, 57, who now finds his name on the FBI's "Most Wanted" register. The latest political shooting in a string of 'evil' attacks Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, a Republican, called the attack 'evil' and said she was 'heartbroken beyond words' by the killings. The shootings are the latest in a series of attacks against lawmakers across parties. In April a suspect set fire to the home of Democratic Pennsylvania Governor, Josh Shapiro, forcing him and his family to flee during the Jewish holiday of Passover. The suspect said he planned to beat Shapiro with a small sledgehammer if he found him, according to court documents. In July 2024, Trump was grazed on the ear by one of a hail of bullets that killed a Trump supporter. Two months later a man with a rifle was discovered near the president's Florida golf course and arrested. Other incidents include a 2022 hammer attack on the husband of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in their San Francisco home and a 2020 plot by anti-government extremists to kidnap Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and start a civil war.
Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Wales Online
Everything known so far as US politician and husband shot dead
Everything known so far as US politician and husband shot dead Another politician and his wife were wounded in the attacks on Saturday Armed FBI agents search for an active shooter, sweeping a neighbourhood adjacent to the home of Minnesota DFL State Representative Melissa Hortman in Brooklyn Park (Image: Alex Kormann/Star Tribune via AP ) A man posing as a police officer shot and killed a US state politician and her husband in a brazen attack at their home, said a state governor. A second state politician and his wife were wounded in the attacks in the Brooklyn Park and Champlin areas of Minnesota on Saturday. Minnesota governor Tim Walz described the attack as 'targeted political violence'. Police were searching for the gunman responsible for the attacks on the Democratic legislators. Writings found inside a fake police car recovered at one of the shooting scenes mentioned the names of multiple legislators and other officials, Brooklyn Park Police chief Mark Bruley said. Two people familiar with the matter identified the suspect being sought as 57-year-old Vance Boelter. They could not publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Melissa Hortman, a former Minnesota House Speaker, and her spouse were shot and killed early on Saturday in their Brooklyn Park home. A second state politician, senator John Hoffman and his wife, were shot multiple times in Champlin. Officials say both Ms Hortman and Mr Hoffman were mentioned in the suspect's writings. 'When we did a search of the vehicle, there was a manifesto that identified many lawmakers and other officials,' said Mr Bruley. 'We immediately made alerts to the state. We took action on alerting them and providing security where necessary.' Article continues below State patrol colonel Christina Bogojevic asked people 'out of an abundance of caution' not to attend any of the 'No Kings' protests that were scheduled across the state on Saturday. Ms Bogojevic said authorities did not have any direct evidence that the protests would be targeted, but said the suspect had some 'No Kings' flyers in their car. Organisers announced that all of the protests across the state were cancelled. Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman (Image: Minnesota State Legislature/AFP via Getty Images ) Hours after the shootings, hundreds of police and sheriff deputies from departments in the region, some in tactical gear with assault style weapons were scattered through the town. They were also occasional police roadblocks where cars are stopped and checked. Mr Walz said Ms Hortman and Mr Hoffman were deliberately targeted. 'We must all, in Minnesota and across the country, stand against all forms of political violence,' Mr Walz said at a press conference Saturday. 'Those responsible for this will be held accountable.' At the time of her death, Ms Hortman was the top Democratic leader in the state legislature. She was also a former House speaker and was first elected in 2004. She and her husband had two children. Mr Hoffman, a Democrat, was first elected in 2012. He previously served as vice-chairman of the Anoka Hennepin School Board, which manages the largest school district in Minnesota. Mr Hoffman and his wife have one daughter and he represents a district north of Minneapolis. Drew Evans, superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said that authorities were actively searching for a suspect. Post-mortem examinations will be carried out to determine extent of injuries, but Ms Hortman and her spouse died from gunshot wounds, Mr Evans said. A 'shelter in place' order was in effect early on Saturday. Public safety commissioner Bob Jacobson said the suspect was posing as a law enforcement officer. Mr Bruley said the suspect fled out of the back of Ms Hortman's house after an exchange of gunfire with police. Photo provided by the FBI shows Vance L. Boelter in June 2022 (Image: FBI via AP ) The suspect was dressed like a uniformed officer and operating a vehicle that 'looked exactly like an SUV squad car. It was equipped with lights, emergency lights and looked exactly like a police vehicle,' Mr Bruley said. US President Donald Trump said in a White House statement that the FBI would join in the investigation: 'Our Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and the FBI, are investigating the situation, and they will be prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law. 'Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!' Minnesota House speaker Lisa Demuth, a Republican from Cold Spring, called the attack 'evil' and said she was 'heartbroken beyond words' by the killings of Ms Hortman and her husband, Mark. Article continues below 'With the law enforcement response ongoing and details still emerging, I will simply ask all Minnesotans to please lift up in prayer the victims of this horrific attack, as well as the law enforcement personnel still working to apprehend the perpetrator,' Ms Demuth said in a statement. The shootings happened at a time when political leaders nationwide have been attacked, harassed and intimidated during a time of deep political divisions.
Metro
2 hours ago
- Metro
'I'm a conservative dad who voted for Trump - I'd do anything for my trans child
Rick Colby, 64, does everything with his son. Hockey games, Ohio State football matches, mountain hikes. All 'typical American guy' stuff. The Republican also stood by his son's side when he was bed-bound after undergoing a mastectomy, or top surgery, to have his breasts removed when he was 19. 'Ashton is 32, so he's transitioned successfully,' Rick told Metro of his son, who is trans. 'Was it a challenge being his dad as he transitioned at age 19? Yes, but only because I didn't know what I was doing.' Ashton, however, did. Rick helped his son get whatever healthcare he needed to transition, seeing Ashton as his 'guide'. 'My son was meant to be a man,' Rick added. 'He has a masculine soul, I really believe that.' But a growing number of politicians and pundits say otherwise. With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications! Over the past five years, Republican state lawmakers have pushed a barrage of bills to restrict the lives of trans people, including prohibiting their choice of public toilets and withdrawing the medical care they receive. Since Donald Trump came to power, the White House has joined them by limiting the sports teams they can play for and pledging to remove them from serving in the army. 'The current political environment is awful right now,' Rick said. 'Transgender people are being villainised, mocked, insulted and blocked from receiving healthcare. 'One trans woman Ashton and I know left the country to start over somewhere else.' Outlining his reasons for voting for Trump, he said: 'I believed the United States was staring into the abyss – and if Kamala Harris got elected, the nation would be destroyed. She would continue the failed and destructive policies of Biden, who I believe was the worst president in American history. 'That was the choice I had to make. Destroy the country or support transgender people. And the battle at the state level would continue, no matter how I voted.' He added he was surprised by his party's actions following Trump's second election to office, stating that he wasn't expecting the party to be as rigid as they have been over trans rights. 'Republicans are terrible on transgender issues, yes, but I didn't think they would go as extreme as they have,' he said. 'Many of the policies enacted by President Trump and at the state level by Republicans are malevolent and outright harassment, serving no public policy benefit. 'Does that distress me? Of course it does. But we still have free speech in America and Ashton and I will continue to advocate and do all we can. 'Do I believe we will eventually win? Yes. When my son Ashton's generation takes the reins of leadership in our society, being transgender won't be a big deal at all. But it's going to be rough going until that time.' Many are leaving Tennessee, too, after a law was passed in 2023 prohibiting medical providers from prescribing puberty-delaying medication, providing hormone therapy or performing surgery to treat what the law calls 'purported discomfort or distress from a discordance between the minor's sex and asserted identity'. Colby, who voted for Trump last year, is one of countless families closely watching a lawsuit that hopes to overturn the Tennessee ban. LW v Skrmetti, referring to Tennessee attorney general Jonathan Skrmetti, was filed in 2023 and has made its way to the Supreme Court. A ruling is expected this month. The plaintiffs, three families and a doctor, say the law violates the Constitution by denying equal protection to trans people. J Matthew Rice, Tennessee's solicitor general, has argued the law was passed for medical reasons and is not sex discrimination. A verdict in favour of the ban could further jeopardise trans children, Rick said, leaving them two options: pull their kids out of school and move out of state, or stay and cut back expenses to afford out-of-state healthcare. 'I have no idea how the court will rule,' Rick said. 'It would be a great thing if they ruled on behalf of the family with a transgender child.' Sean Madden, the 59-year-old independent-conservative father of a trans daughter in North Carolina, said he hopes the same. Born and raised in New York City, his daughter, Allie, came out as trans when she was 16. 'My wife and I had a very superficial understanding of what it meant to be trans, so we did what almost all parents would do under the circumstances – try and understand,' he told Metro. 'It was clear she had been suffering and alone with this secret for some time.' Together with his wife, Anne Madden, 60, the couple researched healthcare options for Allie, including a therapist. 'The number one objective for your child is to keep them happy and healthy,' he said. Allie, now 25, recently graduated from New York University and is an aspiring electronic dance music producer. Sean knew he had to do something when he first heard of the Tennessee trans youth healthcare ban, thinking of what would have happened to Allie if she didn't have access to the healthcare she needed. So he spoke with 28 families of trans young people for an amicus, a brief offering expertise, in the Skrmetti case. 'My view is that it's a gross abuse of power to take away the decision away from parents and impose a one-size-fits-all remedy when there are no medically-approved alternatives,' Sean said. The Tennessee law bans medical providers from giving puberty blockers, which act like a pause button for puberty, to trans youth. But doctors can write up prescriptions to cisgender youngsters with precocious puberty, which can spur puberty as early as infancy. 'I spoke to a family who had twins, one twin is trans and the other is cisgender with precocious puberty,' said Sean. 'The cisgender twin can be prescribed Lupron… the trans twin in Tennessee and other states like it can't get the same safe and effective drug.' Sean, who works with the Gender Research Advisory Council & Education, pointed to how 40% of trans teens (about 118,300 people) live in a state that restricts their healthcare. More could follow. According to the monitoring service TransLash, of the 701 proposed anti-trans bills sitting in state Houses and Senates today, 189 aim to restrict trans healthcare. How many trans people live in Tennessee is unclear, but a 2022 survey found it is one of the top 10 states people are leaving because of its anti-trans laws, which include bans on updating gender markers on birth certificates and driving licences. One of the families Sean spoke to, a single mum in Utah, drove over state lines to get puberty blockers for her child, only to be unable to afford them. 'So she procured them in Mexico instead,' Sean said. 'These families rise above incredible obstacles and do what they can to get care. It shouldn't be that hard. 'It is not an overstatement to say that if this medically necessary care is taken away or unavailable, kids will die,' Sean added. 'It will fall on the most vulnerable families who can't travel out of state. You're going to have a two-tier health system.' Sean said that one way legislators try to justify their bans is 'dehumanising' trans people by coughing up so much disinformation that the community no longer seems like 'actual humans'. More Trending He worries the Supreme Court may do the same, with the conservative majority justices appearing poised to uphold the ban. To them, Sean has a simple question. 'Ask yourself, if you were in this position, you have an adolescent child with gender dysphoria, what do you do?' he said. 'I think most parents, regardless of their feelings, understand they have to care for their child. That's the job as a parent.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Putin calls Trump to say 'happy birthday' but there was 'no time to talk about Ukraine' MORE: Iran issues stark threat to UK and US if they help Israel deflect revenge strikes MORE: Florida sheriff warns rioters 'we will kill you' as protests spread across US
