Perry Johnson: Build the Republican Party on bold ideas

We are the party of Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump. They painted in bold colors, not pale pastels. They were bold in their actions, sought out to do what the establishment called impossible and are perhaps our greatest presidents as a result. Lincoln built a coalition of strength, conviction and courage. His “team of rivals” was not about comfort or consensus — it was about surrounding himself with strong voices, competing ideas and a relentless commitment to doing what was right. Reagan led a conservative movement to transform our country with lower taxes, dominant defense and strength of his vision. Trump is perhaps the boldest of all, is accomplishing historic change here at home and around the world and does not back down regardless of the opposition or threats. Lincoln famously worked with his rivals, and we here in Michigan should tap into the best talent we have to offer. We have strong leaders who are stepping up to lead. Aric Nesbitt has demonstrated steady and principled leadership in the state Senate. Mike Cox won two statewide elections and understands winning tough races as well as anyone. Tom Leonard has contributed thoughtful and detailed policy proposals. Ralph Rebandt has inspired grassroots activists across the state, reminding us that our party’s strength comes from the people — not the political class. And we cannot forget the 2022 candidates — Tudor Dixon, Kevin Rinke and James Craig — who stepped forward to carry the banner and fight for conservative principles. Dixon has a very bright future in elected politics, should she choose to serve. I also think she could lead a radical reformation of the MEDC. Rinke would be fantastic in reforming the Department of Natural Resources. Chief Craig has the experience needed to lead the state police. And now the party of Lincoln, Reagan and Trump must put forward bold proposals that arenecessary to restore Michigan to its former glory when we boldly and single-handedly createdthe American middle class. First, we must be bold enough to audit the state government from top to bottom. Not a surface-level review — but a real, comprehensive audit that uncovers where billions of taxpayer dollars are going. We know there are billions wasted in bloated education administration that never make it into the classroom. We know there were billions lost to unemployment fraud. We’ve seen millions wasted on the Secretary of State website. And we must have the courage to investigate the kind of massive fraud schemes that have been exposed in other Democrat-runstates. We must be bold enough to completely eliminate the state income tax. Not reduce it. Not phase it out over decades. Eliminate it. When we do, Michigan will become a magnet for opportunity. Young people will stop leaving. Job creators will start arriving. We’ve seen it happen in states like Tennessee, Texas andFlorida — places where freedom and growth go hand in hand. We must boldly reform property taxes. Seniors who have spent their lives building this stateshould not be taxed out of their homes. Reform is not optional — it is urgent. It is alsocomplicated and requires a constitutional amendment. And we must be bold in education. The money allocated for our children must follow our children—no matter where they go to school. It must not be wasted on fraud and bureaucracy. Parents deserve the freedom to choose what is best for their families. Charter schools, in many underserved communities, are leading the way and delivering results where the system has failed. We should boldly empower success — not protect failure. This is our moment. We can choose caution — or we can choose courage. We can listen to the status quo naysayers who want to tweak around the edges and claim fundamental change is impossible. We can settle — or we can lead. The Republican Party was built on bold ideas, strong leadership and an unshakable belief infreedom. That legacy calls to us today. Be bold. That is how we win. That is how we lead. That is how you can keep your money and live your dreams. And that is how we restore Michigan and once again make it the greatest state in the union. Perry Johnson is a Michigan businessman and a Republican candidate for governor.