LANSING, Mich. (AP) – Two more Republican candidates for governor are suing to get on the Aug. 2 primary ballot, just days before the Michigan lineup must be settled. James Craig filed a lawsuit Friday night in the Court of Claims while Michael Markey went to the Court of Appeals on Sunday. They were declared ineligible last week, the result of a tie vote by the Board of State Canvassers. State election officials say they didn’t meet the 15,000-signature threshold because of fraudulent signatures on petitions.
Perry Johnson also didn’t make the ballot and filed a lawsuit Friday. The candidates want courts to order the board to put them on the ballot. They say the elections bureau should have inspected petitions line by line.
Among the disqualified five is Donna Bradenburg, a candidate who visited Sanilac County recently, stopping in at the May 17th Board of Commissioners meeting to discuss her candidacy and platform. Bradenburg spoke extensively about her belief that the last presidential election was plagued by fraud. Meanwhile, the fifth disqualified candidate, Mike Brown, has officially withdrawn from the governor race.
