Leonard Proposes U.P. Ambassador Position

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 02/12/2026) Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Leonard announced that, if elected governor, he will appoint an Ambassador to the Upper Peninsula and establish a dedicated executive office presence, giving Yoopers a direct line to the Governor’s Office.

Leonard said the proposal was shaped by what he is hearing at stop after stop during his current listening tour across the Upper Peninsula.

"In community after community, the overwhelming message people are sharing with me is that theyfeel Lansing has forgotten them,” Leonard said. “For too long, the Upper Peninsula has been treated as an afterthought. That ends when I’m governor.”

On this current listening tour, residents have raised concerns about rising energy costs, limited access to primary care and OB/GYN services, overworked sheriffs, lost mining revenue, and the lack of real mental health options.

Leonard said creating an Ambassador to the Upper Peninsula is one practical way to ensure those concerns are directly represented inside the Governor’s Office.

“The people of the U.P. aren’t asking for favors, they’re simply asking to be listened to,” Leonard said. “We are going to do more than listen. We’re going to give them a permanent seat at the table.”

Leonard said the Ambassador would be a resident of the Upper Peninsula, would report directly to the governor, and would work directly with local leaders and stakeholders.