Gubernatorial candidates debate at MOA

At a Michigan Press Association (MPA) luncheon, several Republican and Democratic candidates for the 2026 Michigan Gubernatorial race participated in a debate, with state political reporter Craig Mauger moderating. Key candidates included former Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, former state Attorney General Mike Cox, Oakland County billionaire Perry Johnson, state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, and Ralph Rebandt. Notable absentees were Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and former Detroit mayor Mike Duggan. The debate covered various state issues, including local elections, FOIA, public notices, and particularly, data center regulation. The discussion on data centers revealed strong concerns among the candidates regarding their impact on the state. Mike Cox advocated for maintaining local control, allowing communities to enact moratoriums, and requiring data centers to build their own power generation to avoid impacting existing utility customers. Perry Johnson highlighted rising energy bills and suggested data centers should absorb incremental costs, while also raising a conflict of interest concerning Secretary of State Benson's husband. Aric Nesbitt proposed no government subsidies for data centers, mandating their location in industrial zones to prevent the consumption of farmland, and ensuring they contribute to lower energy and property taxes while protecting water resources. Chris Swanson criticized the lack of transparency in data center development, citing instances in Saline and Kalkaska where local voices were not heard. Ralph Rebandt expressed outright opposition, viewing data centers as detrimental to water and the environment, noisy, and deceptive in their promises to communities. Candidates debated whether to regulate or outright prohibit these facilities, acknowledging the "organized, forceful" bipartisan opposition that has emerged.