Well, thank you, Michigan.
0:033 secondsFirst, thank you. Thank you. And always, I want to thank Almighty God for every blessing in my life, [cheering] for each opportunity and for each one of you.
0:1616 secondsEverything that we has comes from him. I also want to thank my incredible wife, Liz, and our [cheering] three amazing boys.
0:2424 seconds[applause]
0:2525 secondsThey are the reason why I fight so hard for Michigan's future. Thank you for your sacrifices. I love you. [cheering]
0:3232 secondsAnd I also want to thank President Trump for his endorsement, his friendship, and his steadfast belief [cheering]
0:3939 seconds[applause]
0:4242 secondsand his steadfast belief in the American people. And to every volunteer and supporter who poured your time, energy, and prayers into this cause, this
0:5050 secondsvictory belongs to you. [cheering]
0:5555 seconds[applause]
0:5757 secondsThe primary is over. Now we come together. One team, one fight, one mission to save Michigan.
1:061 minute, 6 seconds[cheering]
1:101 minute, 10 seconds[applause]
1:111 minute, 11 secondsTo those who supported me, thank you.
1:121 minute, 12 secondsAnd for those who did not, I'm going to work every single day to earn your trust. And to every Michigander who feels politically homeless, who loves
1:201 minute, 20 secondsthis state, works hard, and believes in common sense, and wonders whether anyone in government still sees you, I see you. I'm for you. And there's a
1:301 minute, 30 secondsplace for you [cheering] in this campaign. [applause]
1:381 minute, 38 seconds[applause]
1:381 minute, 38 secondsTonight marks the beginning of Michigan's comeback, but we have to be honest about where we are. Michigan's families are paying some of the highest
1:451 minute, 45 secondsgasoline prices in the Midwest. Our unemployment rates among the highest in America. Our children are falling behind. Our infrastructure is crumbling.
1:531 minute, 53 secondsAnd too many of our young people are leaving to find opportunities somewhere else. But don't worry, Benson and Democrats have just blamed Trump because
2:002 minutesthey think you'll fall for it. But we're smarter than that. Here's the truth. The president's occupied the White House for less than half the time that Benson's
2:082 minutes, 8 secondsheld power in Lancing. For nearly eight years, Johnson Vincent's been a part of the Michigan Democratic leadership. For two full years under President Biden, Democrats had a trifecta in Lancing.
2:182 minutes, 18 secondsThey have the power. They passed their agenda. Now they're spending roughly 20 billion dollars more than Michigan spent at the height of COVID. Our state
2:262 minutes, 26 secondsbudget's nearly 50% larger than it was under Governor Snyder. Does your child's school feel 50% better? How about How about your healthcare?
2:352 minutes, 35 secondsHow about your damn roads? No.
2:392 minutes, 39 secondsMichigan now ranks 46th out of 50 states overall. 46th. That's 11 spots worse than California. We rank 45th in
2:482 minutes, 48 secondseducation, 43rd in our economy, 42nd our infrastructure. Our fourth graders rank 44th in reading. 45 states are doing
2:562 minutes, 56 secondsbetter than Michigan. And every one of them has the same president we do. Josyn Benson promises a new direction, but she has been a part of the leadership that
3:043 minutes, 4 secondsgot us lost in the first place. Now she's teaming up with Abdul Elsed, the Midwest mom, Donnie, to impose a socialist agenda.
3:143 minutes, 14 secondsTo impose a socialist agenda that's never worked anywhere has been tried.
3:183 minutes, 18 secondsLook, Michigan does not lack talent. We do not lack resources. But Michigan lacks proven, tested leadership where it
3:263 minutes, 26 secondsmatters the most. [cheering]
3:283 minutes, 28 seconds[applause]
3:353 minutes, 35 secondsI've spent my life answering the call.
3:383 minutes, 38 secondsI'm a veteran. After September 11th, I served our nation in combat and learn to bring people together from different backgrounds to accomplish tough missions.
3:493 minutes, 49 seconds[applause]
3:523 minutes, 52 seconds[cheering]
3:533 minutes, 53 secondsAfter the recession, I work with my father and my brother and we helped grow jobs in Detroit when families needed work and dignity and hope. I'm a
4:024 minutes, 2 secondscongressman. I helped cut taxes, secure our border, end vehicle mandates, save, and protect Medicaid for vulnerable
4:104 minutes, 10 secondspeople. [cheering]
4:134 minutes, 13 seconds[applause]
4:174 minutes, 17 secondsNow, I'm answering the call to come home. Michigan is on fire. I've always run toward the fire. This November, the choice will be clear. We offer freedom.
4:254 minutes, 25 secondsThey offer socialism. We offer change.
4:284 minutes, 28 secondsThey offer continued decline. We offer common sense. They offer crazy. But [cheering] but but
4:354 minutes, 35 secondswe should never underestimate how pain and desperation make false promises sound like hope. That doesn't make
4:424 minutes, 42 secondssocialism compassionate or workable or even viable. It is none of those things.
4:474 minutes, 47 secondsIt means we must listen to people failed by the status quo and answer their pain with solutions that actually work. They don't want bureaucrats controlling their
4:554 minutes, 55 secondslives. They want groceries they can afford, homes they can buy, schools that will teach their children to read. They want safe streets, reliable electricity,
5:045 minutes, 4 secondsdecent health care, and a job that pays enough to raise a family on a single income.
5:095 minutes, 9 seconds[cheering]
5:105 minutes, 10 seconds[applause]
5:125 minutes, 12 secondsOur
5:155 minutes, 15 seconds[cheering]
5:165 minutes, 16 secondsfellow Michiganders just want the pain to stop. But socialism will not stop that pain. It will deepen that pain. It
5:245 minutes, 24 secondswill spread that pain and eventually will make that pain permanent.
5:295 minutes, 29 secondsWe cannot merely condemn socialism. We must expose it for the lie it is and show Michigan a better way. Yes,
5:365 minutes, 36 secondswe must prove that freedom works, free enterprise works, lower taxes work, enforcing the law works, phonics works,
5:445 minutes, 44 secondsstrong families, faith and freedom works. We will cut taxes, lower your energy bills.
5:515 minutes, 51 seconds[cheering]
5:515 minutes, 51 seconds[applause]
5:565 minutes, 56 seconds[cheering]
5:585 minutes, 58 seconds[applause]
5:595 minutes, 59 secondsWe're going to cut taxes. We're going to lower your energy bills. We're going to protect Medicaid for those who need it while stopping fraud and abuse for those who would steal from it.
6:106 minutes, 10 secondsYes. [cheering] We're going to restore excellence and accountability and parental rights to our schools. We will support law enforcement, protect victims, and keep violent criminals off our streets.
6:236 minutes, 23 seconds[applause]
6:266 minutes, 26 secondsWe're going to rebuild our roads and our bridges and our water systems and our electric grid with transparency and accountability. And we're going to make Michigan a state where our children can
6:356 minutes, 35 secondsbuild their futures, not when they feel forced to leave. I know the American dream works because my family lived it.
6:436 minutes, 43 secondsThe son of a slave became a sharecropper. The son of a sharecropper became a mason. The son of a mason became a truck driver. And that son of a
6:516 minutes, 51 secondstruck driver stands before you here tonight. The nominee from the party of Abraham Lincoln, 90 days away because he's [cheering] Michigan's first black
6:596 minutes, 59 secondsgovernor. [applause]
7:057 minutes, 5 seconds[cheering]
7:127 minutes, 12 seconds[applause]
7:147 minutes, 14 seconds[cheering]
7:237 minutes, 23 secondsAll glory and all praise and all honor to God. I am just a servant. [screaming] I am here to submit to the Lord and
7:327 minutes, 32 secondsserve all of his people, all 10 million of us. I'm not standing here because of socialism. I'm standing here by the
7:417 minutes, 41 secondsgrace of God and through the sacrifices of my family and because the American dream is real.
7:497 minutes, 49 seconds[applause]
7:507 minutes, 50 seconds[cheering]
7:547 minutes, 54 secondsTo my children, to my nieces and nephews, and to all of yours out there.
8:018 minutes, 1 secondYou were created in the image of God and built for a purpose. You are not victims
8:078 minutes, 7 secondsof history. You are the founders of f future. Freedom, not socialism, is your birthright. Michigan is made for more.
8:178 minutes, 17 secondsAnd so are you. So tonight, I ask every Michigander, Republican, Democrat, independent, none of the above, I don't care. Join us. Join [cheering] us.
8:308 minutes, 30 seconds[applause]
8:328 minutes, 32 secondsIf you want your children and your grandchildren to build their futures here, join us. If you want your children
8:398 minutes, 39 secondsto stay in Michigan and not necessarily in your basement, your movement is with us.
8:468 minutes, 46 seconds[applause]
8:508 minutes, 50 secondsThis is bigger than any one party. We are all Michiganders and we're all one nation under God. This future, this
8:598 minutes, 59 secondsfuture is about our home. And I'm here to tell you, hope is on the horizon.
9:059 minutes, 5 secondsHelp is on the way and the best is yet to come. [cheering]
9:149 minutes, 14 seconds[cheering]
9:169 minutes, 16 seconds[applause]
9:219 minutes, 21 secondsSo with that, may the Lord bless and keep each and every single one of you. May God bless
9:309 minutes, 30 secondsthe great state of Michigan and God bless the United States of America.