Johnson emphasizes funding strength for general election, while James shifts focus to Democrats

Just before an event with supporters in downtown Lansing Monday, Perry Johnson said he isn’t considering the possibility that he’ll lose Tuesday’s Republican gubernatorial primary.

As for why Republican voters should put him on the general election ballot in November, he emphasized his financial resources — Johnson, an independently wealthy businessman, has put nearly $30 million of his own money into his campaign and says he has reserved $5 million of general election ads to start immediately following the primary. 

His primary opponent, U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Twp.), reported about $1.4 million cash on hand, according to campaign finance filings from late July. Mission Michigan, the PAC backing James, has an additional $1.9 million cash on hand. 

“The number one issue is, I’m really the one person that could defeat Jocelyn Benson,” he told Michigan Advance. “Jocelyn Benson just put up a $10 million buy. John James is broke and everybody knows it. I’m obviously not.”

James is considered the front-runner in the race and is leading in most recent polls, especially after snagging the endorsement from President Donald Trump — which Johnson called “the weakest endorsement in the history of endorsements” — but Johnson said he believes people will be shocked by the results of the primary.

“I’ve got to win. I don’t even want to think about that. I’m the kind of guy that plans to win,” he said. “When you have momentum like we have, it’s more than momentum. It’s almost a movement, and it is in the air where we go because people feel it.”

Johnson’s event was one in a series of campaign stops that both candidates are making in the days leading up to the primary election — he will hold a major campaign rally in Novi on Monday night, while James is hosting a “Primary Eve Party” in Harrison Township alongside U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Bruce Township) and other supporters. 

Speaking at that event Monday afternoon, James did not discuss his primary competition or mention Johnson at all, focusing instead on the Democratic ticket and what he called a race that is “common sense versus crazy.”

“If you can’t get fired up about this state and what this means for our kids, what this means for the rest of the nation, then you don’t have a heart in your chest,” James said to a crowd of supporters. “Michigan has always been called to stand up in defense of what’s right, but because of your help and because of your effort, we are going to win. But it will not happen if we don’t spread the news.”

Other speakers at the event, including James’ former primary competitor Mike Cox, similarly focused on the need to win in November, with McClain saying, “this election is going to be a turnout election.”

“It starts right now, because we cannot allow the socialists to take our nation in the wrong direction with the next president,” James continued. “It starts right here with who runs our state and who runs our future.”

Despite Johnson’s desire not to consider a scenario where James takes the Republican nomination in the primary, he said that he would still support down-ballot Republicans financially if he were not on the general election ballot himself.

Johnson also said he would not seek the lieutenant governor position, which will be chosen by nominations at the party’s late August convention.

“Of course not,” he said when asked. “Come on. I have companies around the world. I mean, I’m sitting over here donating my time, and I’m running because I can change the state.”

If he does pull out a victory on Tuesday, Johnson said he believes that he will be able to unite a conservative coalition in November that includes independents, Republicans and even Libertarian Party members. 

“If I’m at the top of the ticket, we know I will work harder, I will spend more. I’m not broke, and we will win,” he said.

He added that he believes Trump will back him in a general election if he is the nominee, though Trump’s campaign team has called him a “Never Trumper” on social media during the primary election. 

“I think President Trump likes me,” Johnson said. “I even helped the president run. So it’s not like we have a bad relationship.”

The video of the James event is in partnership with C-SPAN.