A Candidacy Already Stirring Controversy
William Null of Shelbyville is officially entering the 2026 race for Michigan governor as a Republican, despite being one of the most controversial figures in recent state history. Null was charged, then found not guilty, in the 2020 plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a case that drew national attention and left lasting political scars. Null’s entry immediately raised questions from Republicans and critics who doubt he can collect the required 15,000 valid signatures needed to make the ballot, and whether his past will overshadow the race from the start.
Background That Voters Will Not Forget
Null was accused of offering material support to Adam Fox and Barry Croft, who were convicted in the plot. He and his twin brother Michael, along with Eric Molitor, were acquitted by a jury in September 2023. Null also became widely recognized after appearing at the Michigan Capitol in tactical gear during protests against Whitmer’s COVID lockdown orders. He later founded the Michigan Liberty Militia in 2015, which grew to about 20 members and disbanded after his 2020 arrest.
Campaign Led by Another Acquitted Defendant
Null’s campaign paperwork, filed on November 18, lists Eric Molitor as treasurer. Molitor also stood trial with the Null brothers and was acquitted. Both men have previously tried, and failed, to win local elected office. Null has said he and Molitor believe they were entrapped during the original investigation, claiming government informants played an outsized role in the events that led to their arrests.
Immediate Reaction From Political Leaders
Democrats moved quickly to condemn the candidacy. Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel called Null a far right extremist whose views have no place in the state, and urged Republican leadership to publicly reject his campaign. Even within the GOP, reaction has been cautious, with many doubting Null can survive the signature process, let alone compete against better known candidates like U.S. Rep. John James, Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, former Attorney General Mike Cox, and former House Speaker Tom Leonard.
Null Says He Knows His Odds, But Wants His Name on the Ballot
Null, a father and construction worker, has acknowledged that his chances of winning are slim. He has described his run as an effort to push back against what he sees as government overreach and corruption, themes he embraced during earlier local campaigns. Despite the political headwinds, Null says he wants to appear on the 2026 ballot, joining a crowded field of Republicans aiming to succeed Whitmer, who is term limited.
