Fans hail the Trump-backed Michigan gubernatorial candidate for her ‘common sense’ attitude, but say they’re glad her experienced running mate is there if she wins

• Michigan GOP Governor hopeful Tudor Dixon is running to unseat incumbent Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
• The crucial midterm race is Dixon’s inaugural bid for elected office.
• Dixon’s running mate, Shane Hernandez, is a former Michigan State Representative.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Many supporters who flocked to hear what Michigan Republican Governor hopeful Tudor Dixon had to say as she wrapped up her pre-election sprint across the state told Insider that They loved how down-to-earth she was.

Jazmine Early, a Macomb County resident who said she’s been involved in local politics for more than a decade, called the top candidate to oust incumbent Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer ‘a simple person’ who reminds her a lot herself.

“You see her on the street and she’s nobody. That’s who I am, nobody,” Early said Sunday night at a GOP rally in suburban Detroit.

Asked if she had any concerns that ‘no one’ would have to suddenly try to figure out another global pandemic or crisis, Early said Dixon’s ace in the hole was running mate and former Michigan State Rep. Shane Hernandez.

“He’s got the knowledge. He knows how to run government. And he can teach him how to run it,” Early said of Hernandez, adding, “I told him the reason I joined Tudor at 100% was you.”

Warren Rojas / Insider

Katrina Whetsel, a Macomb County resident and local GOP official, strongly agreed with Early.

“Am I worried? No, not at all,” Whetsel said of his confidence in Dixon’s ability to lead. “She is one of us.”

Macomb County resident Giulio Russo said Dixon seemed to have the right instincts, so he’d be willing to give her a break if she didn’t necessarily kick in.

“You can’t expect these people to come into office being geniuses at how to handle things,” he told Insider at Sunday night’s rally. “But if you have common sense, there’s no reason you can’t do it.”

On the contrary, Russo said he found Dixon’s status as an outsider appealing and drew parallels with embattled former President Donald Trump.

“He wasn’t a politician, but he has common sense. And he tries to control everything with common sense,” Russo said.

Like all politicians, Russo said Dixon could always rely on advisers when needed. “She’s going to have smart people around her,” he predicted.

Laura Davidson, a Kent County resident, said she was sure Dixon was in good company.

“They surround themselves with people who are like-minded and have experience,” Davidson said Monday night at Dixon’s election-eve rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Additionally, Davidson said she expects Dixon to be inspired by “some of these other governors who are running their states the way we want to be run.”

Davidson didn’t specify which other GOP-led states she thinks Dixon should emulate, but some of the people who have gotten a lot of attention lately include Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Texas Governor Greg Abbot and the governor of Virginia. Glenn Youngkin.

A pair of self-declared independent voters have said the governor they desperately hope Dixon doesn’t try to model is Whitmer.

“After the past two years, we are looking for a change,” John and Camile, a Macomb County couple who declined to give their last name, told Insider why they plan to vote Republican on Tuesday.

“I can’t do worse than what’s already happening,” added John.

Warren Rojas / Insider