Disqualifications and now indictments – could the Michigan Governor race get any worse for the Republicans?

| 4:00 pm EDT June 9, 2022
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Weeks ago, five Republican candidates for Governor of Michigan – including the two frontrunners – got caught faking their ballot signatures and were disqualified. While these things always end up in a protracted court battle, thus far it’s looking like all five of them really will remain disqualified. Now things have gotten even uglier.

The cheating scandal whittled the Republican field from ten candidates down to five. Now one of the five remaining candidates has been arrested by the FBI for having allegedly stormed the Capitol on January 6th. Ryan Kelley had been a fringe candidate, but with half the field now gone, one recent poll had Kelley in first place in the Republican primary.

Even if Republican primary voters don’t have a problem with Kelley’s January 6th actions, his indictment and impending criminal trial will make it extraordinarily difficult for him to win the general election if he does get the nomination. So presumably at least some Republican primary voters will now move away from Kelley, for fear that nominating him would mean essentially forfeiting the election.

So not has the Republican field for Governor of Michigan been cut in half, the remaining frontrunner will soon be standing criminal trial for allegedly attacking the United States Capitol. This is like some deranged reality show where the candidates keep getting voted off the island.

Incumbent Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer is currently polling ahead of every remaining Republican candidate. That said, the increasingly bizarre nature of this race, and Michigan’s status as a purple state, mean that the results are going to be unpredictable. Those who want to help support Whitmer’s reelection effort can do so here.