{"id":2633360,"date":"2026-07-21T19:50:57","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T23:50:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/personal-attacks-and-infidelity-rumors-emerge-in-bitter-michigan-governor-race\/"},"modified":"2026-07-21T19:56:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T23:56:11","slug":"personal-attacks-and-infidelity-rumors-emerge-in-bitter-michigan-governor-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/personal-attacks-and-infidelity-rumors-emerge-in-bitter-michigan-governor-race\/","title":{"rendered":"Personal attacks and infidelity rumors emerge in bitter Michigan governor race"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpersonal-attacks-and-infidelity-rumors-emerge-in-bitter-michigan-governor-race%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2633360&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Michigan governor\u2019s race has become highly contentious, with rep.Hillary Scholten (D-MI) accusing republican candidate Perry Johnson of spreading false claims about her, including unfounded rumors of infidelity. The conflict escalated after Johnson posted social media messages referencing rumors involving Scholten and Rep. John James (R-MI), a candidate endorsed by President Trump.Johnson later named Scholten specifically,leading to sharp exchanges. Scholten strongly denied the accusations, describing johnson\u2019s attacks as false and inappropriate, and highlighted her personal struggles, including her divorce. The controversy has intensified a primary characterized by lawsuits, ballot challenges, and personal attacks, further polarizing the race. The primary election is scheduled for August 4, with the Republican contest now more combative and headline-making. The dispute also highlights broader tensions within Michigan politics as Republicans vie for the nomination to face Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/michigan\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"655\">Michigan\u2019s <\/a>race for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-election\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11675\">governor<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">President Donald Trump\u2019s <\/a>endorsement. Johnson later identified Scholten by name in subsequent posts, intensifying the controversy.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4657827\/personal-attacks-infidelity-rumors-break-out-bitter-michigan-governor-race\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Personal attacks and infidelity rumors break out in bitter Michigan governor\u2019s race<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4657183\/tech-billionaires-xavier-becerra-california-governor-race\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Tech billionaires line up behind Xavier Becerra in California governor race<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4653520\/abigail-spanberger-six-month-approval-rating\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Abigail Spanberger defends record at six-month mark with approval rating underwater<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The allegations first gained attention when Politics &#038; 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.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe rumor is Hillary Scholten (D) and John James (R) had or are currently engaged in a romantic affair,\u201d the post stated. \u201cThis rumor circulated among anti-John James Republicans in the MI GOP months ago and Perry Johnson\u2019s campaign has been promoting it. Multiple people with connections to Michigan politics in both parties have been aware of the rumor for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The rumor is Hillary Scholten (D) and John James (R) had or are currently engaged in a romantic affair. <\/p>\n<p>This rumor circulated among anti-John James Republicans in the MI GOP months ago and Perry Johnson\u2019s campaign has been promoting it.<\/p>\n<p>Multiple people with connections to\u2026 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/WPzdMbxVyu\">https:\/\/t.co\/WPzdMbxVyu<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/33pWNv9RAP\">pic.twitter.com\/33pWNv9RAP<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Politics &#038; Poll Tracker \ud83d\udce1 (@PollTracker2024) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/PollTracker2024\/status\/2079604565125533897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 21, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Scholten forcefully rejected the insinuations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPathetic Perry Johnson\u2019s attacks against a single mom in Congress are sick and false. Knock it off and move on, boys,\u201d the Michigan Democrat <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/HillaryScholten\/status\/2079594592660251131\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/HillaryScholten\/status\/2079594592660251131\">wrote on X.<\/a> Earlier this year, Scholten <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wlns.com\/news\/politics\/scholten-divorce-announcement\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.wlns.com\/news\/politics\/scholten-divorce-announcement\/\">announced her separation<\/a> from her husband of 20 years, Jesse Holcomb. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.themidwesterner.news\/2026\/06\/hillary-scholtens-husband-alleges-dem-rep-has-mental-health-issues-paranoid-aggressive-and-controlling-behaviors-she-put-tracking-device-on-his-car\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.themidwesterner.news\/2026\/06\/hillary-scholtens-husband-alleges-dem-rep-has-mental-health-issues-paranoid-aggressive-and-controlling-behaviors-she-put-tracking-device-on-his-car\/\">Court records show<\/a> that their divorce proceedings have been acrimonious.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Johnson\u2019s social media posts also included criticism of Scholten\u2019s personal life and parenting, drawing condemnation from Democrats and introducing another layer of acrimony to a race that has already featured lawsuits, ballot challenges, and increasingly sharp exchanges between Republican rivals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is no public evidence substantiating the rumors referenced in the online posts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The flare-up comes just days after former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox suspended his gubernatorial campaign following Trump\u2019s endorsement of James, essentially transforming the Republican primary into a two-man contest between James and Johnson.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., speaks at a campaign event for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris in Riverside Park, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Grand Rapids, Mich. (AP Photo\/Paul Sancya)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/AP24292735334462.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., speaks at a campaign event for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris in Riverside Park, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Grand Rapids, Mich. (AP Photo\/Paul Sancya)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cToday I leave the race for Governor with great sadness because I never found a better experience than serving the people of Michigan as I did for 21 years as a prosecutor and Attorney General (and before that, as a Marine),\u201d Cox said in a statement announcing his withdrawal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cox also pledged to support James in the general election, arguing that Trump\u2019s endorsement had effectively settled the Republican nomination.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The increasingly personal attacks mark the latest chapter in a contentious Republican primary. Johnson has repeatedly targeted James throughout the campaign, challenging his ballot petitions, criticizing his campaign, and questioning his credentials as the GOP nominee of choice.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, the rhetoric has expanded beyond the candidates themselves, pulling Scholten \u2014 who is not running for governor \u2014 into the political crossfire.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">Republican gubernatorial primary candidate Perry Johnson leaves an event after speaking with voters Monday, July 20, 2026, in Port Huron, Mich. (AP Photo\/Paul Sancya)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/AP26202096913378.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Republican gubernatorial primary candidate Perry Johnson leaves an event after speaking with voters Monday, July 20, 2026, in Port Huron, Mich. (AP Photo\/Paul Sancya)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The episode spotlights the increasingly combative tone of Michigan\u2019s 2026 governor\u2019s race as Republicans battle for the chance to succeed term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) while Democrats prepare for what is expected to be one of the nation\u2019s most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nj-gubernatorial-race-in-dead-heat-with-less-than-two-months-to-go\/\" title=\"NJ gubernatorial ... in dead heat with less than two months to go\">closely watched gubernatorial contests<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/4655261\/michigan-senate-race-most-important\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4655261\">THE MOST IMPORTANT SENATE RACE IN DECADES IS HAPPENING IN MICHIGAN<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">James\u2019s campaign did not immediately respond to the controversy, and Johnson has continued defending his posts on social media.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIs it not true that you and John James sponsored multiple bills together like taxpayer funded childcare, voted together on Killswitches, and sat next to each other at the State of the Union?\u201d he posted on X. \u201cYou even made a very public display about wanting to sit together. Working with you is why John James has the most liberal record of any Michigan Republican.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Republican primary is set for Aug. 4.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Michigan governor race turns ugly with false rumors and attacks<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2646,"featured_media":2633361,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/hilary-scholten-perry-johnson.jpg?1784653078&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[50410,3728,4601,5894,7350],"class_list":["post-2633360","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-controversy-2","tag-election","tag-michigan","tag-politics","tag-rumors"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/hilary-scholten-perry-johnson.jpg?1784653078&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633360","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2646"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2633360"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633360\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2633364,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633360\/revisions\/2633364"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2633361"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2633360"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2633360"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2633360"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}