Former Gubernatorial Candidate Anthony Hudson Accused of Threats Against Genesee County GOP
Update: This article has been updated to include a statement from Anthony Hudson.
GENESEE COUNTY, MI — The Genesee County Republican Party (GCRP) has formally contacted the Michigan State Police and the Burton Police Department following a series of alleged threats and intimidating statements made by former Republican gubernatorial candidate Anthony Hudson.
In a press release issued Saturday, the GCRP stated that Hudson contacted the party's Secretary on Thursday, February 19, declaring he was “going to war” with the county party. The communication allegedly included threatening language directed at named party officers, the County Chair, members of the Executive Committee, and leadership within the 8th Congressional District Republican Committee.
The Fallout and Party Switch
The escalation occurred just as Hudson officially finalized his departure from the GOP. According to the GCRP, Hudson initially declared a change in his party affiliation in October 2025, and he formally announced his switch to run as a Libertarian candidate on the same day he contacted the party's Secretary.
Following his exit, Hudson publicly claimed that the county party leadership told him he was “done” and “unwelcome at Republican events.” The GCRP categorically denied these allegations, clarifying the strict distinction between public events and official, credentialed party business.
"The Genesee County Republican Party does not arbitrarily exclude individuals from its public events. Participation in official party functions such as county conventions, however, is governed by party rules and requires delegates to be affiliated Republicans."
A Pattern of Inflammatory Rhetoric
The GCRP's decision to involve law enforcement follows a documented pattern of extreme rhetoric from the Hudson campaign. Earlier this year, Hudson drew widespread condemnation—including from the GCRP—for social media videos in which he advocated for the public hanging of elected officials for "treason."
"The Genesee County Republican Party will not tolerate advocacy of violence, intimidation, or the misrepresentation of party actions from any individual, regardless of position or affiliation," the GCRP stated in their release. "Personal attacks, intimidation, and advocacy of violence have no place in our political process."
The party emphasized its unwavering commitment to the rule of law and urged primary voters to weigh a candidate’s ethics, morals, and character heavily when deciding who to support for elected office. The matter is currently under active review by local and state law enforcement.
County conventions across the state—including the pivotal Genesee County GOP Convention—are taking place this Thursday. Review our complete guide to understand the delegate process and what to expect from these crucial local meetings.
Explore our 2026 Michigan Republican Primary candidate tracker.