Michigan’s race for governor took an ugly turn Tuesday after Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI) publicly accused Republican gubernatorial candidate Perry Johnson of spreading false claims about her, including an unsubstantiated infidelity rumor. The latest accusations escalate an already-bitter contest marked by lawsuits, ballot challenges, and attacks among GOP rivals.The dispute began after Johnson posted a series of social media messages that were widely viewed as alluding to rumors involving Scholten and Rep. John James (R-MI), who is running for governor with President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Johnson later identified Scholten by name in subsequent posts, intensifying the controversy.The allegations first gained attention when Politics & Poll Tracker, a politics-focused account, cited a rumor of a romantic relationship between Scholten and James but provided no evidence to support the allegation.
“The rumor is Hillary Scholten (D) and John James (R) had or are currently engaged in a romantic affair,” the post stated. “This rumor circulated among anti-John James Republicans in the MI GOP months ago and Perry Johnson’s campaign has been promoting it. Multiple people with connections to Michigan politics in both parties have been aware of the rumor for a while.”
