New ad in Michigan race for governor questions James’ loyalty to Trump

By Craig Mauger, cmauger@detroitnews.com

A nonprofit based in December has launched an advert blitz in current days attacking U.S. Rep. John James, probably signaling {that a} new candidate may very well be ready within the wings to hitch the race to turn into Michigan’s subsequent governor.

James, a two-term U.S. Home member from Shelby Township, is seen by many because the early frontrunner within the major for the Republican nomination.

Nevertheless, a nonprofit known as Michigan First Ideas has begun sponsoring advertisements that includes essential feedback James reportedly made about Donald Trump in 2022, accusing James of being “utterly disloyal” to the Republican president.

“John James places himself first,” the TV advert claims. “We want a frontrunner who will put Michigan first.”

Up to now, the nonprofit has booked about $140,000 in radio and TV time within the Detroit market alone, based on an estimate from an advert monitoring service. The corporate additionally runs advertisements on radio in different elements of Michigan, based on disclosures filed with the Federal Communications Fee.

Michigan First Ideas was integrated on December 9, based on state incorporation paperwork.

Among the group’s advert buys had been made by way of RuralAMFM, a Grand Rapids-based agency through which outstanding Republican political marketing consultant John Yob is a associate, based on filings with the Federal Communications Fee.

Yob ran the 2022 marketing campaign for governor of self-financing Oakland County businessman Perry Johnson, a Republican who touted himself as a high quality guru. Johnson has not but mentioned whether or not he’ll run for governor once more in 2026.

4 years in the past, Johnson spent about $7 million on his marketing campaign earlier than turning into one among 5 Republican candidates for Michigan governor who had been disqualified from the August major because of a wave of fraudulent petition signatures. Talking on the Republican Nationwide Conference in July 2024, Johnson mentioned Trump has the “mind of a genius.”

“I be a part of many Republicans who agree with President Trump’s considerations about John James’ candidacy and subsequently assist the route of the advert, however it’s not my group and I refer inquiries to the folks main it,” Yob mentioned in an announcement to The Detroit Information.

Yob was referring to feedback Trump made in June, when the president mentioned he was “undecided” if he was “joyful” that James was operating for governor as a substitute of re-election in his battleground U.S. Home district in elements of Macomb and Oakland counties.

In some paperwork filed with the Federal Communications Fee for the brand new anti-James advert, the title of the brand new advert was listed as “Not Comfortable.”

In response to the advert, James’ spokeswoman Hannah Osantowske mentioned the congressman has led the gubernatorial major in polling and fundraising.

“John James is a confirmed winner,” Osantowske mentioned. “President Trump loves winners and he remembers those that have been loyal.

“John is honored to have acquired the President’s endorsement in every of his previous races and is totally dedicated to incomes it once more.”

James held a slim lead throughout the margin of error in opposition to Democrat Jocelyn Benson in a Jan. 2-6 statewide ballot on the governor’s election commissioned by The Detroit Information and WDIV-TV (Channel 4).

James, an Iraq Warfare veteran who beforehand labored in his household’s logistics firm, ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 2018 and 2020 earlier than successful his seat within the Home of Representatives in 2022 and 2024.

Political marketing consultant Doug Stafford offered an announcement to The Information on behalf of Michigan First Ideas, saying the group was created “to tell Michigan residents about points necessary to the folks of Michigan, resembling reducing revenue and property taxes and drawing consideration to leaders who fail to place Michigan earlier than itself.”

“Michigan First Ideas is happy that there are a number of donors who agree with our efforts and can adjust to all related disclosure legal guidelines,” Stafford mentioned of the place the group’s cash got here from.

Stafford and Yob had been each described by Politico as “key gamers” in U.S. Senator Rand Paul’s failed 2016 presidential bid.

As a result of the nonprofit would not particularly inform Michigan residents learn how to vote, Michigan First Ideas possible will not must reveal the identities of its donors to the general public.

W. Alan Wilk, an legal professional with the Dykema agency, filed the paperwork to include Michigan First Ideas in December. Wilk has labored with a litany of political nonprofits, together with Put Progress First, a bunch supporting Mike Duggan’s unbiased marketing campaign for governor.

The Republican primaries for governor are already nicely attended, with seven candidates. The primaries will happen in August.

Along with James, others within the Republican race embody Senate Minority Chief Aric Nesbitt of Porter Township, former Lawyer Normal Mike Cox of Livonia and former state Home Speaker Tom Leonard of DeWitt.