Perry Johnson announced his presidential bid Feb. 9. Courtesy | Facebook
Perry Johnson, a Republican Detroit businessman and self-described “quality guru,” announced his 2024 presidential campaign on Feb. 9.
“Perry Johnson is running for president to save the nation from Joe Biden’s flailing economy and to put the bloated federal government on a diet,” said Johnson’s press secretary Elizabeth Stoddart.
Johnson, a 75-year-old businessman, made his money by promoting and implementing statistical controls and standardization in the automotive industry. He founded the Perry Johnson Companies Group and wrote more than 15 manuals on quality management and statistical processes. He visited Hillsdale in March 2022.
“I am a problem solver, a quality guru, and I am ready to take on the biggest and most inefficient institution in the country – the federal government,” Johnson tweeted.
Johnson has never held political office, but ran for Michigan governor in 2022 and was disqualified with four other candidates due to fraudulent nominating petition signatures.
Johnson blamed the rising costs of basic necessities on government borrowing and said he plans to put the government on a strict budget.
“He is currently the only candidate with a true plan about how to get America back on track and make everyday living affordable again,” Stoddart said.
Stoddart said Johnson believes suppliers will produce more goods and subsequently lower prices with a 2% reduction in discretionary government spending. To reach this goal, Johnson plans to award bonuses to bureaucratic agencies who make the proper budget reductions. He also wants to simplify existing tax brackets and reduce current rates.
“I’ve spent my entire life as a problem solver,” Johnson tweeted. “I built my businesses on the premise of taking something that is imperfect, broken or inefficient, and through quality standards, making it as close to perfect as possible.”
Johnson started his campaign in Iowa, the first caucus state for the GOP.
“The Democrats gave Iowa the middle finger, but we are going to give Iowa the respect and attention it deserves in its historic role as the leadoff state for our Republican Party,” Johnson tweeted.
Johnson also spent $192,000 to air a superbowl campaign ad in Iowa which portrayed Democratic officials as greedy and bloated, according to The Detroit News. Inflated images of Sen. Chuck Schumer, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez waddled across the screen, asking for more money.
“That’s not the solution, that’s the problem. I’m Perry Johnson. I’ve written a book called ‘Two Cents to Save America.’ If Washington cuts the budget just 2% a year, problem solved,” Johnson said.
Johnson also offered a free copy of his book on his campaign website.
He hopes to take the principles of quality control that he used in the automotive industry and apply them to the federal government: cutting costs and increasing standardization.
“I’m serious. This isn’t rocket science. We can afford to live again,” Johnson said in the ad.
Three other major Republican candidates have formally launched presidential campaigns: former President Donald Trump, former United Nations Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, and entrepreneur and activist Vivek Ramaswamy.
