John James, a Republican businessman who unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate in Michigan twice, is launching a political action committee to support candidates in 2022 elections.
The 49-year-old Farmington Hills businessman first announced the formation of his “Mission First, People Always” committee
to Fox News on Wednesday. James, who is considered a top recruit for Republicans seeking to dethrone Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2022, will serve as chairman of the PAC.
James plans to financially support candidates who “lead through the challenges of today with the boldness and balance that empowers Americans to live freer, more joyous lives while ensuring our nation is powerful, prosperous, and peaceful”
according to the PAC’s website.
The PAC’s website states it is looking for candidates with “true conservative principles” who will strengthen families, ensure access to the American dream, “restore trust in our fellow Americans,” secure the country and govern with “common sense sustainability.’
“The Republican party was founded by men and women who were willing to fight and die, not for themselves but for the freedoms of ‘the Failed’ and of ‘the Future,’” the website states. “Now Republicans abandon their principles and shy away from debate in the face of Cancel Culture and mean tweets. We must be bold, stand on our principles, and take action.”
Federal campaign finance filings show the committee was formally created on March 29. Bradley Crate is listed as treasurer and custodian of records. Crate was treasurer for a legal fund James created after the 2020 election and performed a similar role for former President Donald Trump’s fundraising ventures.
James was a prolific fundraiser in his two bids for Senate. He collected $12.5 million in 2018 and amassed $48.7 million for the 2020 campaign cycle.
He was defeated by U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, by 6.5 percentage points. In 2020, James outperformed Trump in Michigan but narrowly lost the statewide race against U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township.
James earned 92,335 fewer votes than Peters,
according to certified results, but James waited three weeks to
concede. James expressed concerns about “irregularities” in the election and formed a joint legal fund with the Republican National Committee.
Though James did not provide evidence to substantiate his allegations, he asked the Wayne County Board to hold off on certifying the results and perform an audit. James
also asked the Michigan Board of State Canvassers to delay certification to investigate allegations of fraud.
James continued to rake in fundraising dollars in the weeks after losing the November election.
An MLive analysis found his campaign committee raised $2 million in the month after the election. His legal defense fund collected $184,483, of which only $4,466 was spent.
The Detroit News reported James met with representatives of the Republican Governors Association as the group seeks to recruit a candidate to challenge Whitmer.
James is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and served eight years in the Army before being honorably discharged at the rank of captain. After leaving the Army, James became president of his family’s supply chain business, James Group International.
t.me
qgear.us
rumble.com
