Detroit in Black and White: GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Criticizes Gov. Whitmer and John James episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 8, 2026 · 1H 3M

Detroit in Black and White: GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Criticizes Gov. Whitmer and John James

from The Week That Was on Deadline Detroit · host Allan Lengel / Deadline Detroit

GOP gubernatorial candidate Mike Cox, the former state attorney general, says he gives Gov. Gretchen Whitmer a grade of D for her performance and took a shot at his Republican opponent, Congressman John James. "I'll give her a D alright, and for this reason," Cox said of Whitmer during an appearance Wednesday night on the podcast/videocast, Detroit in Black and White. "We've grown the size of state government by $27 billion over the past seven years; so I ask any of you, what new programs or services have you gotten for that $27 billion?"Nothing. In fact, the damn roads still haven't been fixed," he told the co-hosts Adolph Mongo, Vanessa Moss, Allan Lengel and Jim Nardone. Cox said he covets President Trump's endorsement, saying he'd be foolish not to. And he said this of his primary opponent John James: "John James is a good enough dude. But you know he kind of reminds me of what something Adolph Mongo's old boss Coleman Young once said...about Jesse Jackson: 'He ain't run nothing but his mouth.'"Cox also expressed concern about education in Michigan, saying that a large chunk of the budget is dedicated to education, but the results are poor.He also said he would support the use of National Guard troops and ICE agents in Detroit.  "I wouldn't turn down any federal help one bit," he said. 

GOP gubernatorial candidate Mike Cox, the former state attorney general, says he gives Gov. Gretchen Whitmer a grade of D for her performance and took a shot at his Republican opponent, Congressman John James. "I'll give her a D alright, and for this reason," Cox said of Whitmer during an appearance Wednesday night on the podcast/videocast, Detroit in Black and White. "We've grown the size of state government by $27 billion over the past seven years; so I ask any of you, what new progra...

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Detroit in Black and White: GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Criticizes Gov. Whitmer and John James

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This episode was published on January 8, 2026.

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GOP gubernatorial candidate Mike Cox, the former state attorney general, says he gives Gov. Gretchen Whitmer a grade of D for her performance and took a shot at his Republican opponent, Congressman John James. "I'll give her a D alright, and for...

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