Brian Calley

Brian Calley
Born	(1977-03-25) March 25, 1977 Dearborn, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation	Politician
Years active	2007–present
Known for	63rd Lieutenant Governor of Michigan (2011–2019)

Brian Nelson Calley (born March 25, 1977) is a U.S. political figure who held the position of the 63rd lieutenant governor of Michigan from 2011 until 2019. Affiliated with the Republican Party, he previously served in the Michigan House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011. Presently, he leads as president of the Michigan Small Business Association and sits on the board of trustees at Oakland University.

Calley is notably committed to supporting individuals affected by autism and their families, a dedication inspired by his daughter's diagnosis. While acting as governor, he enacted legislation mandating that Michigan health insurance providers cover autism therapies.

Early life and political career

Born in Dearborn as the third child among six siblings, Calley's family relocated to Fort Riley, Kansas in 1982 due to his father's military service with the U.S. Army, returning to Michigan two years later. He completed his secondary education at Ionia High School in 1994 and obtained a bachelor's degree in business administration from Michigan State University in 1998, followed by an MBA from Grand Valley State University in 2000. Prior to his political career, Calley spent ten years working in banking with a concentration on commercial lending and served two terms as Vice Chairperson on the Ionia County Board of Commissioners.

Calley was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2006 and won re-election in 2008. Throughout both terms, he was part of the minority party, including during the period of the smallest Republican caucus in four decades (2009–2010). He gained significant knowledge in tax legislation and acted as minority vice chair on the House Tax Policy Committee. In 2008, Calley received the "Legislator of the Year" award from Michigan's Small Business Association, becoming the first freshman legislator to earn this distinction.

In 2010, after winning the Republican nomination for state Senate, Calley was chosen as running mate by gubernatorial candidate Rick Snyder. Initially, some Tea Party members supported businessman Bill Cooper instead; however, Cooper eventually withdrew and endorsed Calley. Consequently, Calley stepped aside from his Senate candidacy, which was then assumed by former state Representative Judy Emmons. The Snyder-Calley ticket triumphed over Lansing Mayor Virgil Bernero and Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence, securing 58% of votes in the general election.

Lieutenant Governor (2011–2019)

At age 33, Calley became both the youngest lieutenant governor nationally and Michigan's youngest since John Swainson in 1959. He was actively involved within Governor Snyder's administration.

In early 2011, Calley cast a decisive vote that broke a 19–19 tie in the Michigan Senate for a comprehensive tax reform bill. This legislation abolished the Michigan Business Tax, introduced a flat six-percent corporate income tax rate, reduced individual income tax from 4.35% to 4.25% effective January 1, 2013, and eliminated most tax exemptions and deductions.

He completed a Master of Public Administration degree at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government in spring 2015 after attending weekly classes over two years.

In May 2017, Calley introduced a proposal advocating for transforming Michigan’s legislature into a part-time body.

Calley sought the governorship in the 2018 Michigan gubernatorial election but was defeated in the Republican primary, garnering 25% of votes behind Attorney General Bill Schuette, who ultimately lost to Democrat Gretchen Whitmer.

Autism advocacy

Calley, whose daughter Reagan has been diagnosed with autism, is a well-known advocate for autism awareness. Serving as a state legislator on the Health Policy Committee, he championed autism insurance reform even before his daughter's diagnosis, having first suspected the condition after hearing parents share their stories during committee sessions.

During his tenure as lieutenant governor, Calley spearheaded the legislative push to mandate insurance coverage for autism therapies, enacting these laws while acting as governor during Rick Snyder’s deployment to Afghanistan. In recognition of his contributions, he received the 2011 "Executive Champion" award from the national autism advocacy organization Autism Speaks.

As State Representative

87th District State Representative - Republican Primary, 2006
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±
Republican	Brian N. Calley	4,346	43.11
Republican	Jim Bailey	1,936	19.20
Republican	Susan Vlietstra	1,455	14.43
Republican	Brian Reynolds	1,392	13.81