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Perry Johnson and U.S. Rep. John James
Republican gubernatorial candidate Perry Johnson is going after GOP rival John James, saying James' bid for governor is in big trouble.
“His campaign is collapsing as it did when it cost Republicans up and down the ticket in both 2018 and 2020," Johnson posted on X on Tuesday. "We cannot allow him to cost Republicans yet again. Please join our campaign to eliminate the income tax, reform property taxes, and hold Jocelyn Benson accountable for her fraud and abuse!”
Johnson's comments came in response to a fundraising text James' campaign sent that said, “My campaign could be over. I need you to read this or else this Must-Win campaign will crash and burn." Johnson posted a screenshot of the text on X.
It's not unusual for campaigns to send dire messages like this to try to create a sense of urgency for supporters to donate. Democrats and Republicans alike do it.
James’ campaign fired back, saying that Johnson is “so vain, he’s trying to make this text about him," according to the Michigan Advance.
“It’s not,” campaign spokesperson Hannah Osantowske wrote in a text, the Michigan Advance reports. “Team James sent a general election themed fundraising text message showing John in the worst case within the margin of error. The RCP average has him ahead of Benson by 3.5 and Duggan by 16.”
John James is informing his supporters tonight that his campaign “could be over soon.” His campaign may “crash and burn.”
— Perry Johnson (@PJQualityGuru) March 31, 2026
His campaign is collapsing as it did when it cost Republicans up and down the ticket in both 2018 and 2020. We cannot allow him to cost Republicans yet… pic.twitter.com/efcGGFleMF
