Metro Detroit Rep. Cynthia Johnson disqualified from ballot over late campaign fees

Michigan Rep. Cynthia Johnson, a Democrat from Detroit, has been disqualified from the ballot for the August primary for past due campaign filing fees, her campaign was informed by the Wayne County Clerk on Friday.

Specifically, Johnson was disqualified for filing affidavits with the state in February and April to run for office without having paid late campaign fees, according to the Michigan Bureau of Elections.

Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett sent Johnson a letter Friday indicating she was disqualified from running in the Democratic primary for the newly drawn 1st District in Detroit. Johnson is currently serving her second term in the Legislature, having been elected to the current 5th District in 2019.

The disqualification prevents a primary between Johnson and fellow incumbent-state Rep. Tyrone Carter, D-Detroit, for the new 1st District. One other Democrat, Jermaine Tobey, of Detroit, also has filed to run in the district.

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Michigan Director of Elections Jonathan Brater sent Garrett a letter Tuesday indicating Johnson had late filing fees for five campaign finance statements in 2020 and 2021. Candidates for state offices in Michigan are required to submit documents detailing how they raise and spend campaign funds.

Johnson's campaign committee paid the outstanding fees on April 13. But on April 5, she filed a campaign finance compliance affidavit with the state indicating the committee had no outstanding fees.

In the letter sent to Garrett, Brater said signing the affidavit while having outstanding fees was grounds for disqualification, a decision that was ultimately left up to Garrett.

"After reviewing the letter from the State of Michigan's Bureau of Elections and (the corresponding statute), I must inform you that you are disqualified from appearing on the ballot for the Office of State Representative — District 1," Garrett wrote.

Johnson said over the phone Friday she thought she was in compliance with the Bureau of Elections when she signed the affidavit. She added her campaign will "try all we can" to get back on the August primary ballot.

She also said she believes because she didn't "have the stamp of approval" of Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, she was targeted for disqualification. A message left with a Duggan spokesperson seeking comment was not immediately returned Friday.

Several other candidates were disqualified from the August primary ballot Tuesday, including incumbent state Sen. Betty Alexander, D-Detroit.

Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @arpanlobo.Become a subscriber today.