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Craig gives his first political speech in Jackson in July 2021. (Photo: Nancy Derringer)
A past Detroit police chief's goal of becoming governor, or at least being nominated, won't happen this year. Ditto for Perry Johnson and Michael Markey.
Michigan's Supreme Court on Friday afternoon rejected appeals by James Craig and the other hopefuls who contested two lower court rulings this week, the Free Press reports.
The Court of Claims and Court of Appeals found that they're properly denied Aug. 2 primary ballot lines because too many qualifying petition signatures were forged.
Original article, Thursday:
The Michigan Court of Claims has ruled James Craig cannot appear on the Aug. 2 primary ballot, following an appeal from the GOP gubernatorial hopeful who was among a handful effectively disqualified over widespread signature fraud.
Craig issued a statement saying he'd immediately appeal ahead of a Friday deadline to certify candidates.
From the Freep:
The Court of Claims decision mirrors Wednesday rulings from the Michigan Court of Appeals, which denied similar appeals from GOP gubernatorial hopefuls Oakland County businessman Perry Johnson and Grand Haven financial adviser Michael Markey.
Johnson has appealed to the Michigan Supreme Court, and Markey has said he plans to do the same.
Dismissing Craig's lawsuit, Michigan Court of Claims Judge Elizabeth Gleicher wrote she is bound by the Court of Appeals decision in the Johnson lawsuit that she said resolved the same underlying issue at play in Craig's bid to challenge his removal from the primary ballot.
State elections officials have said more than half of the 21,305 signatures submitted by the ex-police chief to get on the ballot were invalid, with full petition sheets apparently forged by circulators. Craig has said he's the victim of a targeted effort to keep him from the governor's seat and called on Attorney General Dana Nessel to open a criminal investigation.
The State Board of Canvassers deadlocked last week along party lines on whether to let Craig advance, preventing him from doing so without a court victory.
