Polling Average
60%50%40%30%20%10%0%
46.8%
29%
6.8%
5.6%
Michigan Republican Governor nominee?
$243.5K
AUG 5, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleBusinessman
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
GenderMale
LocationMichigan
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BackgroundBusinessman
EducationMichigan State University (graduated 1983)
Notable personal detailsKevin Rinke is a Michigan businessman and former head of the Rinke Automotive Group who ran for the Republican nomination for Governor of Michigan in 2022. He has also owned and managed a post-acute traumatic brain injury rehabilitation business. Rinke is a lifelong Michigander and Michigan State University graduate, and he has been active in Michigan Republican politics as a potential gubernatorial contender in the 2026 cycle.
SourcesShowHide
rinkeformichigan.commichiganpublic.orgmichfb.comen.wikipedia.orglatimes.comuppermichiganssource.combridgemi.comtennesseestar.comtransparencyusa.orggriid.orgelectionline.orgdemocraticgovernors.orges.wikipedia.orgbaycountymi.govlegislature.mi.govkalcounty.govprojectdefenddemocracy.comcloud.tctimes.comreddit.comcbsnews.comminingjournal.netfox17online.comclickondetroit.comdetroitchamber.comthemidwesterner.newswxyz.commichiganlcv.orgfox2detroit.commichiganadvance.comapnews.comdeveloper.ballotpedia.orglegislation.ballotpedia.orgfrontpage.ballotpedia.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orgballotready.orgvotesmart.orgnga.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orggovinfo.govcongress.govfec.govclerk.house.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
The candidate supports major tax cuts including elimination of Michigan’s personal income tax and reduction of other taxes and government spending, and favors reducing regulation and shrinking government to lower costs for businesses and individuals.
Healthcare
Kevin Rinke favors individual choice in healthcare and a limited government role in public-health mandates, supports ending statewide shutdowns during pandemics, and emphasizes data-driven pandemic responses. He has criticized regulations that increase costs for providers (citing insurance and inspection requirements) and opposes Michigan’s 2019 no-fault auto insurance reforms.
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Immigration & Border
The candidate criticizes "illegal immigration" and lists it among problems facing Michigan but has not published detailed immigration or border-policy proposals on his campaign site or in major interviews. Public statements and campaign advertising reference stricter immigration enforcement themes without outlining specific policy measures. Overall public signals on immigration are general and enforcement-focused but lack concrete policy detail or comprehensive reform proposals.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate is personally opposed to abortion and supports restrictions, backing bans with exceptions for the life of the mother and for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest; he says the issue should be handled by the state legislature rather than by the governor.
Climate & Energy
Supports keeping and expanding fossil-fuel infrastructure (including Enbridge Line 5 and a replacement tunnel) and emphasizes Michigan energy independence and jobs from oil/gas development while opposing policies that would shut down those resources. Prior public statements and debate remarks prioritize lowering energy costs and supporting natural gas and pipeline projects rather than aggressive emissions regulation or Green New Deal–style policies.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports constitutional carry and opposes red-flag laws and proposals to defund or undermine law enforcement; describes mandatory safe-storage laws as criminalizing law-abiding gun owners and favors using trained, armed veterans or law‑enforcement-trained personnel (not teachers) for school security. Has expressed a personal openness to universal background checks in an interview but said he would not plan to propose such legislation as governor.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJan 8, 2026
After years of being gaslighted by some of the most dishonest people in government and the media, The Gateway Pundit, along with some of the most respected election investigators in the state, are looking forward to blowing the lid off the lies about Detroit’s “secure” 2020 election that helped to give Joe Biden with an inexplicable victory in the must-win state of Michigan.
rinkeformichigan.com+41
Polls
Michigan Republican Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements
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