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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer rolled out a coalition of Republicans mostly former officeholders and gubernatorial appointees backing her reelection campaign at an event in Grand Rapids Monday evening.

Though many of the Republicans assembled to support the Governor were only moderately conservative, there is still some distance on policy. Whitmer and her supporters instead placed a focus on shared values.

This is a moment where we have got to come together and I think many of the things that bind all of us standing here (is that) we care about democracy, we care about decency, and we care about individual freedom, Whitmer said at the press conference. We may not agree on everything, but these are fundamental to who we have been in Michigan, and who we need to continue to be.

Whitmer will face Republican gubernatorial nominee Tudor Dixon in the general election Nov. 8.

Related: Tudor Dixon walks the tightrope in gubernatorial bid

Its emblematic of the political moment, where some moderately conservative voters repulsed by the GOPs enduring thrall of former president Donald Trump and his priorities have found themselves politically homeless. The campaigns effort mirrors a similar effort during Whitmers last campaign.

Jeff Timmer, the former Michigan Republican Party executive director, cofounded a group in 2020 that led that effort to support now-President Joe Biden. He is also now backing Whitmer for much the same reasons. In an interview, Timmer said the group is about creating the permission structure for conservatives to become crossover voters in the general election.

Related: Why a former Michigan GOP leader joined disillusioned Republicans against Trump

Among some of these those in attendance Monday, Timmer included, disproven yet persistent conspiracy theories about the integrity of Michigans elections weighed heavily in their decisions to support Whitmer.

If we ever have the luxury of debating policy in elections theres differences that I would have, but I view the choice before us as much more existential, Timmer said. (Dixon is) fueling the lies that have weakened our democracy and brought us to this point where were the faith in our elections is hanging by a thread due to propaganda by people like Tudor Dixon.

Dixon doesnt currently outright deny the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election, but previously waffled on the issue during the gubernatorial primary and has claimed the true result of the 2020 presidential election is unknowable.

Related: Republican candidates want to stop talking about 2020 fraud claims. They may not have a choice.

Dixons campaign brushed aside Whitmers GOP supporters as elites that dont represent everyday people.

We are attracting the support of business owners who had their livelihoods crushed by Whitmer, law enforcement officials who can no longer take the radical bent of todays Democrat(ic) Party that sides with defund the police, and parents who had their children locked out of schools by this cruel, heartless Governor, Sara Broadwater, a spokesperson for Tudor Dixons campaign, said in a statement. Well take their support over the Lansings big government cocktail crowd any day of the week.

Jim Haveman, the director of the former Department of Community Health under Republican governors Rick Snyder and John Engler, said he hadnt seen enough substance from Dixons platform.

Having been in both with Governor Engler and Governor Snyder, I know what government can do to make this state better. And I just havent seen a platform from the candidate to make a difference, Haveman said of Dixon.

Other participants of Republicans for Whitmers 35-member leadership council include major Republican donor Bill Parfet; former State Reps. Doug Hart, Mike Pumford and Mickey Knight; from State Sens. Tony Rocca and Mel Larsen; former U.S. Rep. and state legislator Joe Schwarz; election attorney Joe Pirich and former Michigan Chamber of Commerce lobbyist Bob LaBrandt.

Whitmers pitch to swayable voters is not necessarily to compromise on key issues, but instead a promise to hear them out and uphold small-d democratic values.

I recognize that we may not agree on every issue, but I am focused on solving problems and I will sit at the table and make room for any person who wants to solve problems, Whitmer said. What I dont have time for is people that just want to wage culture wars and talk about things that arent going well.

The campaigns bet is that, for increasingly endangered moderate Republicans, that offer may be enough.

Read more at MLive:

Macomb County GOP asks federal court to decertify the 2020 election

Michigan Republican SOS candidate Kristina Karamo tried to crash car with family in it, according to court filing

Tudor Dixon agrees to Oct. 13 debate with Gretchen Whitmer

Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack leaving court

Millions in Pro-Whitmer spending gives Michigan Democrats the advertising edge this fall

Read more:
Republicans For Whitmer group unveiled in bid for crossover support - MLive.com