Michigan Democrats have filed a campaign finance complaint against the Republican candidate for governor and the Michigan Republican Party.
The complaint, filed Oct. 23 with the Michigan Bureau of Elections, alleges the gubernatorial campaign of U.S. Rep. John James is illegally coordinating with the state party on a TV ad and that the money used to pay for the ad exceeds campaign contribution limits.
On Oct. 23, the James campaign reported receiving a $1.8 million in-kind contribution from the state GOP in the form of production and broadcast of a paid political advertisement. The complaint alleges that contribution exceeds the $166,500 limit the Michigan Campaign Finance Act sets for state party contributions to a candidate for governor.
The
complaint alleges the TV ad is receiving the candidate TV rate, which is not provided to political parties.
“We urge Michigan television stations to immediately cease providing the Michigan Republican Party with the candidate TV ad rate, and instead charge the Michigan Republican Party the standard issue advocacy rate," Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel said in a news release.
A spokesperson for the James campaign did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Dems file campaign finance complaint over James TV ad
