Tudor Dixon Explained

Tudor Dixon
Birth Name:Tudor Makary
Birth Date:5 May 1977
Party:Republican
Spouse:Aaron Dixon
Children:4
Education:University of Kentucky (BA)

Tudor Dixon (; born May 5, 1977) is an American politician, businesswoman and conservative political commentator.[1] A member of the Republican Party, Dixon was the party's nominee for Governor of Michigan in the 2022 election. She became the Michigan Republicans' first female nominee for governor.[2] Dixon lost the election to incumbent Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer, while still receiving the highest raw vote total for a Republican gubernatorial candidate in Michigan's history.[3]

Early life and education

Dixon grew up in Naperville, Illinois, the daughter of Vaughn Makary (died 2022) and Catherine Makary, graduating from Naperville Central High School in 1995.[4] She is of partial Lebanese descent.[5]

Dixon received a Bachelor of Arts with a major in psychology from the University of Kentucky in 1998. In the 2000s, she moved to Muskegon in western Michigan.

Career

Before her career in media, Dixon was an executive at her father's steel foundry.[6] [7] [8] In 2017, Dixon co-founded Lumen Student News, a now-defunct news site that produced conservative-leaning lessons for grade school students.

Conservative commentator

In 2018, she became a conservative commentator, anchoring the weekly program America's Voice Live on Real America's Voice, a streaming news and opinion channel.[9] Some of Dixon's comments were that hijabs are oppressive garments and that Iranian parents are murdering daughters who marry without obtaining parental permission. She has also defended comedians' use of blackface.[10]

In March 2023, Premiere Networks launched The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network, with Dixon becoming their debut host.[11] [12] [13] She hosts “The Tudor Dixon Podcast”.[14]

2022 Michigan gubernatorial candidacy

See main article: 2022 Michigan gubernatorial election. In May 2021, Dixon announced her candidacy to become the Republican Party's nominee for Governor of Michigan in the 2022 election, seeking to challenge incumbent Democrat Gretchen Whitmer.[15] In a July 2022 Republican primary debate, Dixon pledged loyalty to Trump.[16] During the campaign, Dixon promoted Donald Trump's attempts to overturn the election.[17] [18] [19] In a May 2022 debate, when asked, "Do you believe Donald Trump legitimately won the 2020 election in Michigan?," Dixon responded, "Yes."[20] In subsequent media appearances, Dixon would not say whether she still held that belief.[20] [21]

Trump endorsed Dixon after Trump's former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos wrote a letter to the former president, asking him to support Dixon, whom DeVos termed "the only one who can stand toe to toe with" Whitmer.[22] In August 2022, Dixon won the Republican primary.[23]

Dixon was endorsed by Trump,[24] the DeVos family,[25] former acting director of national intelligence Richard Grennell,[26] representative for Michigan's 2nd congressional district Bill Huizenga,[27] GOP House Conference Chair Elise Stefanik,[28] and former Democratic representative for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district Tulsi Gabbard.[29]

In the general election Dixon lost, but still received the highest raw vote total for a Republican gubernatorial candidate in Michigan's history.[30] On November 9, she called Whitmer to concede the race.[31]

Despite Dixon's loss, she managed to flip Gogebic County in the Upper Peninsula (which had voted for Whitmer in 2018), making this the first election since 1932 where a Democrat won the Michigan Governor's Mansion without carrying Gogebic County.[32]

Political positions

Abortion

Dixon supports a ban on all abortions except solely when necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman,[33] and would oppose any exceptions for rape or incest.[34] She has also said she does not believe the mother's health is a sufficient reason, saying that the "health of the mother and life of the mother are different." In an interview, she described the example of a 14-year-girl raped by her uncle as a "perfect example" of an abortion that she believes should be prohibited, adding, "a life is a life for me."[35] In follow-up interviews, she has repeated her belief that there should be no exceptions for victims of rape and incest.[36]

COVID-19

In a June 2020 episode of her America's Voice Live show, Dixon said "our kids are not at risk" of catching COVID-19. When Whitmer brought this up during an October 2022 debate, Dixon denied making the comment and said "My own children have had COVID, so I would never say that."[37] [38]

Following an October 2022 decision to include COVID-19 vaccines on the CDC's optional immunization recommendation schedule,[39] Dixon alleged that "liberal policymakers are pushing COVID-19 vaccines on our children and forcing parents out of the process". According to Michigan Advance, the state "does not have a vaccine mandate for COVID-19 and unvaccinated children are not precluded from attending school"; the media outlet further noted that "This is not the first time Dixon has touted misinformation about COVID-19 and children".[40] [41]

In a June 2020 episode of her show, Dixon invoked a conspiracy theory that the COVID-19 pandemic was part of a plot that Democrats have planned for decades in order to topple the United States.[42]

Education

Dixon plans to found Education Savings Accounts, which can hold funding for students to use on various options of schools.[43] [44] In order to establish Education Savings Accounts, she has called for the repeal of the state's constitutional provision prohibiting public funding of private schools. The DeVos family shares this end goal, for which it has been advocating for years.

Dixon proposed a piece of legislation that would ban teachers from talking about sexual orientation or gender identity with K-3 students.[45] She called for the resignation of the leader of Michigan's Department of Education due to LGBT training materials, stating that "our schools are laboratories for their social experiments and our children are their lab rats."[46]

In June 2022, Dixon spoke in support of a bill that would prohibit drag shows in public schools and permit parents and guardians to sue schools that host drag shows.[47] Critics highlighted the lack of evidence for such events in Michigan schools,[48] and they pointed out that drag shows were not defined in the bill.

Equal rights

Dixon has made public comments that have been condemned as racist by a journalist and an activist, such as defending the usage of blackface. She also described hijabs as "oppressive garments".[49] She thinks that Planned Parenthood aims to control the black population and that the George Floyd protests were part of a scheme by Democrats to take down Donald Trump.[50] [51] During her campaign for governor, Dixon made a gender-based attack, suggesting her opponent is not a "real woman".[52]

Fiscal policy

Dixon supports tax cuts, especially by ending the state's flat income tax of 4.25%,[53] which makes up one-sixth of the state's total budget.[54] Her plan to replace revenue lost by the tax cut relies on tourists from other states.[55] Dixon has vowed not to cut police funding.[56] Dixon has criticized Gretchen Whitmer for her order to shut down the Line 5 pipeline, arguing that the closing will only lead to an increase in energy prices.[57] She has also criticized Whitmer's policies regarding nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.[58] Dixon, whose grandmother died at a nursing home amid the pandemic,[59] accused Whitmer of being "ruled by fear".

Voting policies

Dixon supports the Michigan Voter ID Initiative. If passed, the initiative would require governmental ID to vote, end the sending of unsolicited applications for absentee ballots, abolish ballot drop boxes, prohibit ballot harvesting, restrict election expenses to be publicly funded, and toughen punishments for election fraud.[60] [61] Dixon also called for an audit of the 2020 election results in Michigan.

Personal life

Dixon is married to Aaron William Dixon, a financial controller, and they have four daughters.[62] She is a breast cancer survivor, having been diagnosed in 2015.[63]

Dixon is an evangelical Christian.[64]

Dixon considers acting a hobby and has appeared in low-budget horror films.[65]

Notes and References

  1. News: Conservative commentator Tudor Dixon wins Michigan GOP governor primary . 25 October 2022 . . 2 August 2022 . en-us.
  2. News: Detroit News . August 2, 2022 . GOP governor nominee Tudor Dixon: 'Epic battle' ahead with Whitmer .
  3. News: NBC News . November 8, 2022 . Michigan Governor Election Results 2022 .
  4. News: Zhao . Jeremy . Central Class of 1995 runs for Michigan Governor . March 21, 2023 . Central Times . December 2, 2022.
  5. Web site: Chinni . Dante . 2022-11-05 . 3 Michigan communities see upcoming election through different lenses . 2023-07-12 . Detroit Free Press . en-us.
  6. News: Reardon . Doug . GOP Candidate Profile: Tudor Dixon; steel exec., conservative talk show host . 25 October 2022 . FOX 17 West Michigan News (WXMI) . 29 July 2022 . en.
  7. News: Ulloa . Jazmine . Smith . Mitch . Five Takeaways From the Michigan Governor's Debate . 25 October 2022 . The New York Times . 13 October 2022.
  8. News: Robinson . Samuel . July 27, 2022 . Trump endorsement looms over foggy gubernatorial primary . . live . August 1, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220727200000/https://www.axios.com/local/detroit/2022/07/27/trump-endorsement-looms-over-foggy-gubernatorial-primary . July 27, 2022.
  9. News: Egan . Paul . May 20, 2021 . Conservative TV commentator Tudor Dixon says she is running for Michigan governor . . live . August 1, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220531194947/https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/05/20/tudor-dixon-michigan-governor-conservative-commentator/5179939001/ . May 31, 2022.
  10. Web site: Neavling . Steve . 27 Oct 2022 . Dixon defended blackface, blasted hijabs on her TV show . 11 Nov 2022 . Michigan Advance.
  11. Web site: Radio Ink . Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Debut 2024 Election Podcast .
  12. Web site: Inside Radio . March 21, 2023 . The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network Launches .
  13. Web site: Clay & Buck . March 21, 2023 . The Clay & Buck Podcast Network Debuts with The Tudor Dixon Podcast .
  14. Web site: 2024-07-19 . The Tudor Dixon Podcast on Apple Podcasts . 2024-07-20 . Apple Podcasts . en-US.
  15. News: Eggert . David . May 20, 2021 . Conservative online host announces run for Michigan governor . . August 1, 2022.
  16. News: Gomez . Henry J. . July 6, 2022 . Michigan GOP candidates for governor pledge loyalty to Trump in primary debate . . live . August 1, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220801165004/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-election/michigan-gop-candidates-governor-pledge-loyalty-trump-primary-debate-rcna37028 . August 1, 2022.
  17. News: Vigdor . Neil . August 1, 2022 . Trump Pick for Michigan Governor, Tudor Dixon, Dodges Question About 2020 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220801195103/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/01/us/politics/tudor-dixon-michigan-trump.html . August 1, 2022 . August 1, 2022 . The New York Times.
  18. News: Smith . Allan . Gomez . Henry J. . July 30, 2022 . Behind Tudor Dixon's rise in the messy GOP primary for governor in Michigan . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220801164817/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-election/tudor-dixons-rise-messy-gop-primary-governor-michigan-rcna40687 . August 1, 2022 . August 1, 2022 . NBC News.
  19. News: Bender . Michael C. . Michael C. Bender . July 29, 2022 . Trump Backs Tudor Dixon in Michigan's Chaotic G.O.P. Governor Primary . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220731153840/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/29/us/politics/trump-endorses-tudor-dixon-michigan.html . July 31, 2022 . August 1, 2022 . The New York Times.
  20. News: Vigdor . Neil . August 1, 2022 . Trump Pick for Michigan Governor, Tudor Dixon, Dodges Question About 2020 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220801195103/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/01/us/politics/tudor-dixon-michigan-trump.html . August 1, 2022 . August 1, 2022 . The New York Times.
  21. News: Murray . Sara . Sara Murray (journalist) . Simon . Jeff . August 1, 2022 . Trump's choice in Michigan gubernatorial primary faces criticism that she isn't 'MAGA' enough . . August 1, 2022.
  22. News: Corasaniti . Nick . Epstein . Reid J. . July 30, 2022 . G.O.P. Feuding and Chaos Endanger the Party's Chances in Michigan . . live . August 1, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220801075530/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/30/us/politics/michigan-primary-governor-trump.html . August 1, 2022.
  23. Web site: Mauger . Craig . Michigan Republican Party calls Tudor Dixon winner of primary race for governor . August 3, 2022 . . en-US.
  24. News: Egan . Paul . July 29, 2022 . Donald Trump endorses Tudor Dixon in Republican race for governor . . live . August 1, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220801164958/https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/07/29/trump-endorses-tudor-dixon-michigan-governor/10115243002/ . August 1, 2022.
  25. News: Egan . Paul . May 23, 2022 . Michigan's DeVos family throws its support behind Tudor Dixon for governor . . live . August 1, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220731135104/https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/05/23/devos-tudor-dixon-michigan-governor/9890524002/ . July 31, 2022.
  26. News: Egan . Paul . January 12, 2022 . GOP candidate Tudor Dixon calls Whitmer 'Michigan's original insurrectionist' in video . . live . August 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220112114142/https://eu.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/01/12/tudor-dixon-michigan-governor-republican-candidate/6002813001/ . January 12, 2022.
  27. News: Mauger . Craig . December 21, 2021 . U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga endorses Tudor Dixon for Michigan governor . . live . August 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220331101409/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2021/12/21/u-s-rep-bill-huizenga-endorses-tudor-dixon-michigan-governor/8986148002/ . March 31, 2022.
  28. Web site: EPAC . November 1, 2022 . GOP House Conference Chair Elise Stefanik Endorses Tudor Dixon for Governor of Michigan .
  29. News: Allegedly Pro-Choice Tulsi Gabbard Will Campaign for Tudor Dixon – Who Opposes Abortion for Rape Victims . October 20, 2022 . . Kipp . Jones . October 31, 2022 . .
  30. Web site: Michigan Department of State . Election results and data .
  31. News: Egan . Paul . November 9, 2022 . Tudor Dixon concedes race for Michigan governor to Gretchen Whitmer . November 9, 2022 . Detroit Free Press.
  32. Web site: Detroit Regional Chamber . November 11, 2022 . This Week in Government: Whitmer Wins Reelection; Dixon Concedes .
  33. News: Dress . Brad . July 21, 2022 . Michigan GOP governor candidate says abortion ban should include cases of rape, incest . . live . August 1, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220727174007/https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3568628-michigan-gop-governor-candidate-says-abortion-ban-should-include-cases-of-rape-incest/ . July 27, 2022.
  34. Web site: Michigan's candidates for governor: Where Gretchen Whitmer and Tudor Dixon stand . 2022-10-23 . Detroit Free Press. Paul. Egan . en-US.
  35. News: Pietsch . Bryan . July 21, 2022 . Top GOP governor candidate: Mich. abortion ban should cover rape, incest . . live . limited . August 1, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220731210024/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/07/21/michigan-republican-tudor-dixon-abortion-ban-rape/ . July 31, 2022.
  36. Web site: 2022-08-19 . Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon talks about taking on Gretchen Whitmer . 2022-10-23 . FOX 2 Detroit . en-US.
  37. Web site: Oosting . Jonathan . Gibbons . Lauren . 2022-10-13 . Michigan governor debate: Fact checking Whitmer-Dixon showdown . 2022-10-25 . . en.
  38. Web site: Stebbins . Laina G. . 2022-10-21 . Dixon spreads misinformation about COVID-19 vaccine and schools . 2022-10-25 . Michigan Advance . en-US.
  39. Web site: McPhillips . Deidre . October 20, 2022 . Covid-19 vaccines will be on the 2023 vaccine schedule, but that doesn't mean they're required in schools . 25 November 2022 . CNN.
  40. Web site: Stebbins . Laina G. . October 21, 2022 . Dixon spreads misinformation about COVID-19 vaccine and schools . 25 November 2022 . Michigan Advance.
  41. Web site: Reston . Maeve . Judd . Donald . October 23, 2022 . GOP candidates seize on decision about Covid-19 vaccines for children as a rallying cry for parental rights . 25 November 2022 . CBS 58 WDJT - Milwaukee . CNN.
  42. Web site: Steck . Em . Alafriz . Olivia . 2022-10-27 . Michigan GOP gubernatorial nominee invoked conspiracy claiming Democrats sought to 'topple' US in retaliation for losing Civil War . 2022-10-28 . CNN . en.
  43. News: Lawler . Emily . October 11, 2021 . This gubernatorial candidate's education plan involves changing the Michigan constitution . . live . August 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220807000910/https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2021/10/this-gubernatorial-candidates-education-plan-involves-changing-the-michigan-constitution.html . August 7, 2022.
  44. News: Epstein . Reid J. . August 2, 2022 . Tudor Dixon, a conservative commentator, will challenge Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in Michigan. . . live . August 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810090921/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/02/us/politics/tudor-dixon-michigan.html . August 10, 2022.
  45. Web site: Channel 3 . Gabrielle Dawson News . 2022-09-27 . Dixon proposal would bar sexual orientation, gender identity talk with K-3 students . 2022-10-14 . WPBN . en.
  46. Web site: Tudor Dixon calls for resignation of state's top educator over LGBTQ training video . September 20, 2022. October 14, 2022 . Detroit Free Press. Paul. Egan . en-US.
  47. News: Hermani . Jordyn . June 30, 2022 . Dixon, lawmakers look to ban drag shows from schools despite lack of evidence this occurs . . live . August 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810085433/https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2022/06/dixon-lawmakers-look-to-ban-drag-shows-from-schools-despite-lack-of-evidence-this-occurs.html . August 10, 2022.
  48. News: Grieve . Jack . August 2, 2022 . How did Tudor Dixon get into politics anyway? All about Michigan's Republican candidate for governor . . live . August 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220809234848/https://www.crainsdetroit.com/politics/who-tudor-dixon-what-know-about-republican-candidate-michigan-governor-0 . August 9, 2022.
  49. Web site: Neavling . Steve . Dixon defended blackface, blasted hijabs on her TV show . 2023-05-13 . michiganadvance . 27 October 2022 . en.
  50. Web site: Neavling . Steve . Tudor Dixon amplified racist remarks, conspiracies on her TV show . October 26, 2022 . October 28, 2022 . . en.
  51. Web site: Benen . Steve . Steve Benen . 2022-10-28 . Why weird conspiracy theories from the GOP's Tudor Dixon matter . 2022-11-30 . . en.
  52. Web site: Gomez . Henry . August 9, 2022 . Tudor Dixon launches gender-based attack in historic Michigan governor's race . October 28, 2022 . . en.
  53. News: Eggert . David . July 29, 2022 . Where Republican candidates for governor stand on economic issues . . live . August 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220805042807/https://www.crainsdetroit.com/politics/where-michigan-republican-governor-candidates-stand-economic-issues . August 5, 2022.
  54. News: Mauger . Craig . April 27, 2022 . GOP's Kevin Rinke wants to end Michigan's income tax; plan for budget cuts comes later . . live . August 10, 2022 . https://archive.today/20220810200132/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2022/04/27/kevin-rinke-governor-wants-end-michigan-income-tax-plan-budget-cuts-comes-later/9545075002/ . August 10, 2022.
  55. News: Ruble . Kayla . July 27, 2022 . Dixon pushes back on Democrats claiming her tax cut defunds police . . live . August 10, 2022 . https://archive.today/20220727204606/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2022/07/27/tudor-dixon-pushes-back-democrats-claiming-her-tax-cut-defunds-police/10159733002/ . July 27, 2022.
  56. News: Mauger . Craig . July 26, 2022 . Tudor Dixon campaign asks TV stations to 'pull' Dem-backed ad against her . . live . August 10, 2022 . https://archive.today/20220810200507/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2022/07/26/democrats-launch-ad-against-tudor-dixon-final-days-gop-primary-race/10159084002/ . August 10, 2022.
  57. News: Mauger . Craig . LeBlanc . Beth . July 27, 2022 . Dixon at final GOP debate: Female voters don't want 'bully' as governor . . live . August 10, 2022 . https://archive.today/20220810200541/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2022/07/27/michigan-gop-governor-hopefuls-meet-final-debate-before-aug-2-primary/10166450002/ . August 10, 2022.
  58. News: LeBlanc . Beth . August 6, 2022 . Dixon targets pandemic policies, inflation burden during CPAC address . . live . August 10, 2022 . https://archive.today/20220810200602/https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/08/06/dixon-targets-pandemic-policies-inflation-burden-during-cpac-address/10257939002/ . August 10, 2022.
  59. News: Burnett . Sara . August 3, 2022 . Dixon wins Michigan GOP governor primary, to face Whitmer . . live . August 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220809074615/https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-michigan-a1a3ec1327ea5d8795812ae2ef255963 . August 9, 2022.
  60. News: Egan . Paul . July 31, 2022 . Tudor Dixon deflects question on 'stolen election' in Sunday national TV appearance . . live . August 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810090923/https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/07/31/tudor-dixon-shifts-position-stolen-election-fox-tv/10195890002/ . August 10, 2022.
  61. News: Friske . Katheryne . July 21, 2022 . On the issues: Election reform . . live . August 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220805133619/https://www.michiganradio.org/politics-government/2022-07-21/where-the-republican-candidates-for-michigan-governor-stand-on-election-reform . August 5, 2022.
  62. News: Schuster . Simon . July 11, 2022 . Tudor Dixon walks the tightrope in gubernatorial bid . . live . August 1, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220730112829/https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2022/07/tudor-dixon-walks-the-tightrope-in-gubernatorial-bid.html . July 30, 2022.
  63. News: Oosting . Jonathan . June 29, 2022 . Drag queens and MAGA: Tudor Dixon fights culture wars in Michigan governor bid . . live . August 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220807230509/https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/drag-queens-and-maga-tudor-dixon-fights-culture-wars-michigan-governor-bid . August 7, 2022.
  64. Web site: Warikoo . Niraj . November 5, 2022. Faith and politics intermingle on the campaign trail in Michigan . July 12, 2023 . Detroit Free Press.
  65. Web site: Michigan governor hopeful Tudor Dixon eaten by zombies in gory horror film . Craig . Mauger . The Detroit News.

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