Whitmer Leads Dixon As Abortion Becomes Central Issue In MI Governor's Race: Poll

MICHIGAN — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer leads her Republican challenger Tudor Dixon by 13 points, as Michiganders say abortion and women's rights are the biggest issues, according to a new WDIV/Detroit News poll.

The survey of 600 likely voters was conducted between Aug. 29 and Sept. 1 and found Whitmer leading Dixon 48 percent to 35 percent, with a majority of Michiganders supporting Whitmer's job performance (54 percent), according to the poll.

Although Dixon's name recognition has grown by 40 points between July and September, the poll found 35 percent of Michiganders view her unfavorably, as opposed to just 23 percent that see her in a good sense.

Whitmer has targeted Dixon's abortion stance in numerous television ads, in which Dixon states she supports an abortion ban with "no exceptions."

The poll found abortion has become the cornerstone issue motivating Michiganders, as 34 percent said abortion and women's rights are the biggest issues, ranking above inflation and the cost of living (26 percent), education (10 percent) and the economy and jobs (8 percent).

"This should be about (Democratic President Joe) Biden. And it's not. It's about abortion," Glengariff founder and pollster Richard Czuba told the Detroit News of the governor's race.

Whitmer holds a 27 point lead over Dixon among women voters (54-27 percent), while Dixon holds a slight lead (43-42 percent) among men, according to the poll. Moreover, Whitmer also holds a slight lead among women without a college degree (29.8-22.9 percent).

Overall, a majority of Michiganders (57.6 percent) disagreed with the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, while just 32.6 percent of voters agreed with it, according to the poll.