As the November 8th gubernatorial election between Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Tudor Dixon approaches in Michigan, voters are wondering where candidates, and their running mates, stand on key issues.

Earlier this month, the Dixon campaign touted running mate Shane Hernandez as a “great partner” for Dixon in “keep[ing] our community safe from sexual predators”. However, many citizens expressed their doubts given Hernandez’s record on sexual assault prevention bills from his time in the Michigan state House.

In 2018, in the wake of the Michigan State University gymnastics scandal involving Larry Nassar, Hernandez repeatedly opposed bipartisan efforts to expand protections for sexual assault victims. He was one of six no votes on an overwhelmingly bipartisan bill that would have provided written materials on sexual assault and harrasment to grades 6-12 public school students. Later, as part of the same package, he voted against another measure that would have created a state Higher Education Sexual Assault Ombudsman office for postsecondary institutions to expand sexual assault prevention services and provided funding for public outreach campaigns concerning sexual assault. 

With the election less than 50 days away, candidates will be expected to answer a litany of questions on their policy positions and past votes.