Austin Chenge

Austin Chenge is an emerging political figure in Michigan who came under the limelight when he became the first candidate to make an announcement to run for the 2022 gubernatorial race against the current Governor Gretchen Whitmer. He is a member of the Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party.{{Cite web|url= https://www.revolt.tv/news/2021/2/10/22276789/black-gop-candidate-cancel-black-history-month%7Ctitle= Black GOP candidate vows to cancel Black History Month in Michigan if elected 
== Early life and career ==
Austin is an American of West African descent and his age is currently 35. His parents are immigrants from Nigeria {{Cite web|url= https://www.complex.com/life/black-michigan-gop-candidate-says-he-wants-to-cancel-black-history-month/%7Ctitle= Black GOP Candidate Promises to Cancel Black History Month in Michigan If Elected He studied in England and graduated from the School of Law at The University of Birmingham in England. 
Austin’s an entrepreneur, operating a product and software design company, and he's never held public office. {{Cite web|url= https://www.wilx.com/2021/02/10/candidate-for-michigan-governor-wants-to-end-black-history-month/%7Ctitle= Candidate for Michigan Governor wants to end Black History Month 
He is a decorated military veteran and has received an Army Achievement Medal as a distinguished honor graduate. {{Cite web|url= https://www.fox17online.com/news/politics/meet-austin-chenge-a-gop-candidate-for-michigan-governor-who-wants-to-cancel-black-history-month-and-calls-gov-whitmer-a-dictator 
 
== 2022 Michigan gubernatorial election ==
=== Elections ===
==== 2022 ====
Austin’s the first candidate to announce that he is challenging current Governor Gretchen Whitmer in the 2022 gubernatorial race. {{Cite web|url= https://www.newsweek.com/michigan-gop-candidate-austin-chenge-trump-supporters-overcome-passion-1560722 He began his campaign by travelling to all 83 counties in the state of Michigan stating he wants to be "a breath of fresh air" for Michigan. Austin has been critical of Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan and on serval occasions, he has called the Governor a dictator.{{Cite web|url= https://www.fox47news.com/news/state/meet-austin-chenge-a-gop-candidate-for-governor-who-wants-to-cancel-black-history-month-and-calls-gov-whitmer-a-dictator|title= Meet Austin Chenge: a GOP candidate for governor who wants to cancel Black History Month and calls Gov. Whitmer a 'dictator'
He has stated that on his first day as Governor, he will cancel the contracts Michigan has with Dominion Voting Systems , the company at the center of several debunked conspiracy theories. {{Cite web|url= https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2021/02/01/michigans-gop-candidate-for-governor-says-hed-cancel-contracts-with-dominion-voting-systems-on-day-one%7Ctitle= GOP candidate for governor calls Whitmer a dictator despite alleged assassination plot against her
 
== Criticism ==
Austin came under criticism for his comments following the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol when he tweeted those who stormed the capitol were “overcome by passion”. {{Cite web|url= https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/11/capitol-rioters-overcome-passion-gop-gov-candidate-says/6626101002/|title= GOP candidate for Michigan governor: Capitol rioters 'overcome by passion'
Austin’s policy went viral in February 2021 when in a tweet he stated he would cancel black history month and all individual history months in the state of Michigan and declare an American history month instead. {{Cite web|url= https://www.wilx.com/2021/02/10/candidate-for-michigan-governor-wants-to-end-black-history-month/|title= Candidate for Michigan Governor wants to end Black History Month {{Cite web|url= https://www.unilad.co.uk/news/republican-governor-candidate-austin-chenge-promises-to-cancel-black-history-month-if-elected/%7Ctitle= Republican Governor Candidate Austin Chenge Promises To Cancel Black History Month If Elected
 His words were immediately met with a lot of criticism with Congresswoman Ilhan Omar retweeting Austin’s original tweet and calling him “Nacas”. A word that translates to moron in her native Somali language. {{Cite web|url= https://twitter.com/IlhanMN/status/1359227810607468552%7Ctitle= Congresswoman Ilhan Omar Tweet on Feb 9, 2021, The only offensive thing is the audacity to campaign on something you know you have no business campaigning on. Nacas! 
== Personal life ==
Austin is married with three children, and lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan. {{Cite web|url= https://www.michiganradio.org/post/gop-gubernatorial-candidate-austin-chenge-first-challenger-whitmer-2022-race|title= GOP gubernatorial candidate Austin Chenge is first challenger for Whitmer in 2022 race