Last updated: Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, at 7:15 am. This post will be updated with candidate and campaign announcements ahead of Michigan\u2019s 2026 election.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Bloomfield Hills businessman Perry Johnson is running for governor for the second consecutive cycle, joining a crowded field seeking the Republican nomination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Johnson announced his campaign Monday morning, saying he’ll campaign on government efficiency and fiscal discipline, including a “phased elimination” of Michigan’s 4.25% income tax, which generates more than $13 billion in annual revenue for state government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEliminating the income tax is about fairness and growth,\u201d Johnson said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe want people to keep their money and live their dreams. When people keep more of what they earn, they invest, spend, and grow our economy right here in Michigan. With disciplined budgeting and efficient government, we can responsibly phase out the income tax without sacrificing essential services.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Johnson also ran for governor in 2022, when he spent more than $7 million of his own money but was among a handful of Republicans kept off the ballot due to invalid voter signatures<\/a> on required nominating petitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also launched a long-shot bid for president<\/a> in 2024 but eventually bowed out to endorse President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n