James and Johnson remain on ballot for governor, while canvassers reject Smith and Rebandt

Despite challenges and accusations of insufficient signatures, two candidates grappling for the top spot in the Republican race for governor will appear on the ballot.

Members of the Michigan Board of State Canvassers on Thursday agreed to certify nominating petitions for U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township) and businessman Perry Johnson, agreeing with recommendations from the Michigan Bureau of Elections that the two candidates had enough valid signatures to meet the 15,000 threshold required to make the ballot.

The board consists of four commissioners, two Democrats and two Republicans. Commissioner Paul Cordes, one of the Republicans on the board, previously served as campaign manager for Johnson’s 2024 presidential campaign.

At the beginning of May, supporters of the two candidates filed challenges against each other’s campaigns, with each camp accusing the other of filing fraudulent signatures.

Johnson, who ran for governor in 2022, was one of five Republican candidates disqualified in a signature fraud scandal that resulted in criminal convictions for two individuals charged with criminal enterprise and several counts of election law forgery.

A day before the meeting, The Detroit News received an affidavit from Johnson’s campaign staff alleging that the campaign added required disclaimers to petitions featuring signatures from 10,000 voters after the forms were signed.

Michigan Bureau of Elections Director Jonathan Brater addressed the accusations during the meeting, noting that under the Michigan Campaign Finance Act, it’s unclear whether the statement noting that a candidate’s “paid for by” statement needs to appear on the petition.

Even assuming there is a violation under the campaign finance act, that wouldn’t provide a basis to reject those signatures, Brater said.

While James and Johnson will appear on the ballot alongside Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-Porter Township) and former attorney general Mike Cox, the board did not certify petitions for Ralph Rebandt, with the Bureau of Elections determining he had submitted an insufficient number of valid signatures.

The Board of State Canvassers also determined Kim Thomas, a math teacher and former federal auditor running as a Democrat, did not have enough valid signatures to qualify. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, whose petitions were certified, will make up the Democratic slate for governor in the August primary.

Bernadette Smith, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, also failed to submit the required number of signatures, leaving former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-White Lake) unopposed in the Republican primary. U.S. Rep Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham), state Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) and former Wayne County Health Director Abdul El-Sayed make up the Democratic slate.