LANSING — The Republican gubernatorial field is set, with two-time statewide loser John James, self-funder Perry Johnson, 2010 failed candidate Mike Cox, and ineffective Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt all making the ballot, despite heated accusations of signature fraud and a last-minute desperate attempt from James to keep Johnson off the ballot.
The field sets up a summer of GOP chaos, as all the candidates are desperately courting Donald Trump’s endorsement—even as Trump’s failed policies are causing Michiganders to lose their healthcare and forcing prices to rise.
“Michigan Republicans are in for a long and bruising summer as John James, Perry Johnson, Mike Cox, and Aric Nesbitt duke it out for Trump’s endorsement,” said Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson Derrick Honeyman. “Whoever emerges from this messy primary, they’ll be tied to Trump’s harmful agenda of raising costs and cutting healthcare.”
Background:
- The Republican primary has gotten increasingly expensive, with MIRS News reporting yesterday that Johnson’s spending has reached $20 million, while James’ campaign has spent $1.2 million and the DeVos-funded pro-James PAC Mission Michigan spending $3 million so far. Earlier in May, Cox launched a $1 million ad buy.
- Trump has not weighed in on the Republican primary, and GOP consultant Dennis Lennox told the Washington Examiner this week that “the Michigan governor’s race is probably the best example of where Trumpworld’s phones are blowing up.”
- Each of the candidates has lined up behind Trump’s policies—with James voting in Congress to cut Medicaid, Johnson praising Trump’s tax law while trying to emulate Trump, Cox trumpeting his time as Trump’s lawyer, and Nesbitt shamelessly saying that Trump is his favorite author.
- As the Republican candidates battle for his endorsement, Trump is deeply unpopular in Michigan—and a recent poll showed two-thirds of voters saying that prices have risen because of Trump and his disapproval rating on the cost-raising Iran war stands at 58%.
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