James Turns To Public Financing For GOP Primary

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 07/22/2026) Republican gubernatorial candidate John James has made at least two requests for public funding worth a combined $387,000, according to Bureau of Elections filings released this week.

James is the first known gubernatorial candidate to request public funding for the 2026 primary, a mechanism that can be used in the primary or general election by a candidate who raises at least $75,000 and promises not to spend more than $2 million in a race.

The $2 million spending limit applies only to the primary. If James wins the nomination, he would have to separately apply for public financing and accept the applicable restrictions for the general election.

James can only accept a maximum of $990,000 from public financing and can't raise more than $50,000 from himself and his family for the entirety of the campaign, according to the Bureau of Elections.

“Over 8,000 Michiganders have invested in this campaign because they believe in John James," said James campaign manager Jackson Gross. “Every resource possible should be used to beat Benson and save our state from socialism. Perry Johnson has spent $70 million dollars attacking Donald Trump and John James, and trying to get people to like him. Perry is about to lose for the third cycle in a row.”

James's July 20 filing drew the attention of the Johnson campaign, which called the funding mechanism “campaign welfare.”

“He is asking taxpayers to bankroll another campaign after already losing two statewide elections,” Johnson said. "I am using my own money because I am not beholden to the political establishment or special interests. Republicans cannot Save the Ticket with a career politician asking taxpayers to fund his ambition. We need an outsider who can beat Jocelyn Benson, save our entire Republican ticket and finally put Michigan families first.”

John Truscott of Truscott Rossman and a former spokesperson for former Gov. John Engler, said using public funding has been common practice in gubernatorial races since the mechanism was created in 1976, particularly in primary elections where spending is typically much less.

“If it fits in your budget, I don't know why you wouldn't take it. It's a very prudent thing to do,” he said. "It's set aside for these purposes.”

But in today’s big-dollar races, political consultant Dennis Lennox said he sees the limitations on the money being too restrictive for serious candidates.

“I'm unaware of a Republican gubernatorial candidate who has won with public financing since 1990,” he said. “I don't know why you'd artificially handicap yourself.”

No 2022 gubernatorial candidate used public financing, but four did in 2018 – Brian Calley ($325,470), Abdul El-Sayed ($990,000), Bill Schuette ($552,841) and Gretchen Whitmer ($990,000), according to the Bureau of Elections. Neither of the major party nominees – Schuette or Whitmer – used public financing for the general election.