The exit of Tom Leonard from the Michigan Republican primary race for governor marks the departure of a GOP official who was not eager to drink the Make America Great Again Kool-Aid or dance to the tune of President Donald Trump.
Leonard was the only mainstream Republican candidate who was not touting or seeking an affiliation with Trump on the campaign trail to make his case as the next governor. He came across as an individual with his own mind and who can demonstrate a modicum of independence from where Trump is taking the country, in the face of the many GOP leaders who are afraid to speak out against the president.
I’ve even heard from some Democrats who touted Leonard as a candidate who should be taken seriously because they believed he offered a different center of gravity for the overall campaign and can point to uncomfortable realities without seeking permission from the Trump world.
Unlike most of the remaining GOP candidates, who are obsessed with seeking the president’s approval, Leonard is principled enough to walk away from the lust for political power because he refused to sacrifice his values to become governor.
“As the race has evolved, we’ve taken an honest look at the path forward. And at the end of the day, I’m not willing to compromise who I am or how I believe this campaign should be run in order to win,” Leonard announced on social media last week. “Michigan deserves better. And right now, that means coming together, focusing on what unites us, and doing everything we can to move our state forward in November.”
That’s admirable and impressive for a card-carrying Republican these days. There aren’t many who have a backbone and are willing to display independence and integrity, as Trump has converted many of them into sycophants and loyal followers.
Leonard’s exit from the GOP race for governor now leaves only candidates running on Trump’s agenda or even more extreme views, offering little to general election voters.
The race needs a candidate with crossover appeal who can credibly speak about fiscal discipline, personal responsibility, public safety, economic justice and systemic inequality, demonstrating an educated worldview that intersects with all concerns across the political universe.
A candidate who can build a coalition of business and labor leaders, racial justice advocates and heads of institutions around a shared vision to champion issues such as economic security, education, employment and infrastructure is what Michigan needs as governor. Not a candidate who is vowing to make the state an extension of the Trump White House.
People are tired of performative politics. They are looking for candidates who are genuine and have a clear moral framework and conscience, whose credibility is built on what they are willing to risk, not what they are trying to preserve at all costs.
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bankole@bankolethompson.com
Bankole Thompson’s columns appear on Mondays and Thursdays in The Detroit News.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: With Leonard out, GOP gov’s race loses its independent voice | Thompson
Reporting by Bankole Thompson / The Detroit News
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