RGA Scales Back On James

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 10/07/2026) The Michigan Victory Fund (MVF), the political action committee for the Republican Governors Association (RGA), has significantly scaled back its media spending on John James (R-Shelby Township), a notable development that is leaving the Republican nominee with no substantial paid media presence four weeks before the general election.

Since the primary, the MVF had accounted for 62% of every dollar spent on broadcast, cable, digital and streaming in support of James ($12.2 million of $19.4 million), according to AdImpact.

From Aug. 18 to Sept. 29, MVF was averaging $1.58 million a week in paid media. For the week of Oct. 6, MVF is spending $187,000, leaving Democrat Jocelyn Benson and her allies with $3.79 million on the air for the week, essentially uncontested.

Since the primary, James' campaign has spent or reserved $950,378. The Mission Michigan PAC has spent or reserved $2.1 million and the America Next PAC $3.7 million, according to AdImpact. None of the three entities are putting up much spending of note this week.

The Republican Governors Association did not return an afternoon email for comment. A James spokesperson pledged to look into the matter, but also didn't get back to MIRS by the end of the day.

MIRS reported on Sept. 23 that neither the James campaign nor its supporters had spent money on TV/digital since the primary in Flint or Northern Michigan and haven't spent anything in the Lansing media market since Labor Day.

At the time, folks inside the James orbit said that James and Mission Michigan did their buys on a week-to-week basis. As for this week, that spending has been scant, a troubling sign for Republicans up and down the ballot not named Mike Rogers.