GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – If you didn’t know who Tudor Dixon was before Thursday night, you know her now.

The GOP gubernatorial candidate took the debate stage at WOOD-TV8 in Grand Rapids on Thursday night with impressive gusto. She appeared smart, calm, and well-versed in the issues in the first of two debates this election season.

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Nothing seemed to rattle Dixon.

For Democratic incumbent Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, things appeared to reflect a different story.

The governor, who is used to controlling press conferences virtually and surrounding herself with people who prop up her own political beliefs, appeared flustered at times throughout the night. Gov. Whitmer’s voice appeared  uncharacteristically shaky throughout the one hour debate, and it seemed early on that her handlers did not prepare her for the tough fight Dixon came prepared to win.

In their opening statements, both candidates called each other liars. “I will work with anyone serious about solving problems,” Whitmer said.

Dixon did not let that go. “Gov. Whitmer made promises four years ago. She will try to distract from her broken promises, but I will focus on our future,” Dixon said.

With questions from inside the studio and from Michigan residents, debate moderator Rick Albin started the night by asking about abortion. Gov. Whitmer has vowed repeatedly to “fight like hell” for the legal right to abortion up through all nine months of pregnancy, while Dixon is stanchly pro-life.

“To protect our [abortion] rights, we cannot trust Dixon,” Whitmer said, and accused Dixon of being radical on the issue.

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“Dishonesty is the theme for the night [with Whitmer],” Dixon said. “I am pro-life with exceptions for the life of the mother.”

“[Whitmer’s] position is radical,” Dixon continued. “She wants abortion up through the moment of birth. The governor wants abortion to be the only option,” Dixon said.

While Whitmer touted her efforts to keep Michigan’s 1931 ban on abortion from taking effect, Dixon said it’s up to the people to decide when they vote on Proposal 3 next month.

Another hot-button issue included gun rights. Whitmer accused Dixon numerous times of being “divisive” and “long on rhetoric,” but used some of her own when talking about school safety.

“Dixon will put the 2nd Amendment before 2nd graders every time,” Whitmer said.

Dixon, who is for constitutional carry, said “The governor wants to take guns away from law-abiding citizens.”

Later, Dixon turned the tables by highlighting Whitmer’s June 2020 comments where she said she supports the “spirit of defund the police.”

“My opponent is long on rhetoric and short on facts,” Whitmer said.

Dixon hit back, “It must be so embarrassing for [Gov. Whitmer] that it says on tape she supports the spirit of defund the police. I’m not short on facts. Her record shows something different.”

In recent months, the Whitmer administration appears to have put the COVID-19 pandemic and the response to it in the rear-view mirror.

“Lives were on the line,” Whitmer said Thursday night.

However, Dixon refused to let her forget that her policies shut down schools, locked out businesses, and killed nursing home residents.

“She cannot be honest because her COVID-19 response was disastrous, Dixon said. “She wants us to believe that she listened to the experts, but we have the letter that says she did not,” Dixon said, referring to the recommendation to not put COVID-19 infected patients back into nursing homes.

Both candidates traded barbs up until the very end.

“We cannot trust our future to dangerous people who peddle conspiracy theories,” Whitmer said in closing.

“Do not trust [Gov. Whitmer] with another four years to terrorize you,” Dixon said.

The next and final debate between Gov. Whitmer and Dixon is October 25. The election is November 8.