The Republican field for Michigan’s 2026 race for governor just became a bit more crowded with Ralph Rebandt once again launching a campaign to serve as Michigan’s next governor after losing the 2022 GOP primary.
Rebandt is a former pastor who came in last in his party’s most recent gubernatorial primary. He launched his 2026 gubernatorial bid Thursday, Sept. 18, with a video that begins by celebrating President Donald Trump’s return to the White House. In it, Rebandt outlines his opposition to abortion, a key issue in the 2022 election in Michigan when voters approved a ballot measure enshrining abortion rights in the Michigan Constitution. He was the only Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2022 who favored an abortion ban without any exceptions.
In his video, Rebandt also leans into other culture war issues, laying out his anti-transgender stance and claiming over footage of a Black Lives Matter protest that police are currently being targeted. The Republican candidate also includes footage from civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech before the Republican candidate outlines his own vision for the future.
“I have a dream that together we will usher in the golden age of Michigan,” Rebandt says in the video. “We will build the strongest economy in the country. We will return to commonsense policies.” In addition to calling for a manufacturing renaissance and curtailing government regulation of business, he says Michigan should create a state-backed cryptocurrency and eliminate property taxes. While Rebandt listed Oakland County as his county of residence in 2022, his 2026 campaign finance filing says he currently lives in Otsego County.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is currently serving her second term in office after winning reelection in 2022. She cannot run again in 2026 due to term limits.
Rebandt joins a Republican gubernatorial field that includes prominent GOP candidates former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, U.S. Rep. John James, of Shelby Township, and Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, of Porter Township. The Democratic field includes Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is running as an independent.
Contact Clara Hendrickson: chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Former GOP candidate Ralph Rebandt launches another campaign for governor
Reporting by Clara Hendrickson, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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