The Wayne County, Michigan, GOP chairwoman was allegedly bitten by a rambunctious protester at a Detroit rally last weekend for Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon.
The protester, a teacher in the Dearborn School district, attended the rally, holding a sign for Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), and witnesses said she seemed to have her mind set on disturbing the event, ABC 7 Detroit reported. Wayne County GOP Chairwoman Cheryl Costantino said the woman attempted to move toward the stage, but Costantino stepped in and blocked her; that’s when she felt a bite on her arm.
“She was acting so chaotic that I was worried she would go after the speakers or something or hurt somebody,” Costantino said.
“I’ve never been bit by an adult in my life, or anyone over 5,” she added after the bizarre incident. Costantino said that her arm bruised and was in pain in the days following the incident.
Wayne county GOP chair says a protestor bit her at @TudorDixon’s rally over the weekend. Detroit police are now investigating and we’ve learned the alleged attacker is a local school teacher.
The full story coming up at @ 11 on @wxyzdetroit pic.twitter.com/N9HAQvXVTF
— Alex Bozarjian (@alexbozarjiantv) November 4, 2022
One of the witnesses, Linda Sawyer, told local news that she confronted the protester after the event and said the woman seemed proud of what she did.
Costantino filed a police report with the Detroit Police, and a spokesperson for the department told ABC 7 that they were investigating the incident. The Dearborn Public School district is also looking into the allegations made against one of its teachers. The woman denied all allegations and claimed she had been the one attacked.
The county Republican chairwoman said no one should resort to any sort of violence over political disagreements. “It’s not worth going to jail over or getting charges brought against you,” Costantino commented. “It’s one thing to fight for what you believe in, but not physically.”
The Michigan governor’s race is a barn burner as the campaigns make their final pitches before the election next Tuesday. The latest poll from Mitchell Research/MIRS showed Whitmer leading by a mere two points as Republicans hope to ride a late surge in the state and across the country. The governor maintains a four-point lead, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average.