Mike Cox Slams John James For Taxpayer-Funded Gubernatorial Campaign Ads

“It’s John James first, the rules second, and the taxpayers left picking up the tab for his selfish ambitions.”

LIVONIA, MI — A Michigan voter has filed a formal complaint alleging Congressman John James used taxpayer-funded congressional advertising to target voters far outside Michigan's 10th Congressional District while running for Governor.

According to the complaint, James' congressional office spent taxpayer dollars on YouTube advertisements that reached voters across the entirety of the Detroit media market, including portions of six additional congressional districts beyond the one he was elected to represent.

“John James is using taxpayer dollars to run campaign ads in Detroit because he does not want to own his record of voting to put kill switches in cars,” Cox said. “Michigan families work too hard to have their tax dollars turned into John James’ personal campaign slush fund. He should apologize and pay every penny back to the taxpayers.”"

As always, it’s John James first, the rules second, and the taxpayers left picking up the tab for his selfish ambitions."

The complaint alleges that James spent more taxpayer money targeting the broader Detroit media market than he spent targeting voters in his own congressional district and raises questions about whether the ads constituted political activity designed to benefit his gubernatorial campaign.

“I’ll say the quiet part outloud: John James is using taxpayer-funded House communications to run campaign-style ads because his campaign can’t afford to do it itself,” said Teemu Garrity, campaign manager Mike Cox 2026. “The law is clear: official communications are for constituents, not for bankrolling a candidate’s statewide campaign.” 

The complaint follows recent revelations that James' congressional office used taxpayer-funded advertisingto promote his opposition to the Biden-era “Kill Switch” auto mandate that James himself voted to protect earlier this year.

"First he voted for Biden’s “Kill Switch” mandate. Then he got caught. Now he spends your tax money bragging on himself for supposedly opposing it to save his flailing, pathetic campaign for Governor." Cox said. "At every turn, it's about John James helping John James."

“It’s entirely obvious that John James isn’t built for primetime. After $200 million spent and wasted on two statewide losses, and a disastrous start to his third attempt, it’s time for Republicans to move on from the John James experiment.”