MI-GOV: John James (R) attacks data centers while taking money from their builders

Gubernatorial candidate John James is attacking Republican rival Perry Johnson over data centers, but campaign finance records show James has accepted more than $100,000 from executives and family members tied to one of Michigan’s biggest data center builders.

A Metro Times review found that James has received at least $107,300 from members of the Rakolta family and other executives connected to Walbridge, the Detroit-based construction giant behind major data center projects in Michigan and across the country. The money includes donations from Walbridge CEO Michael Haller and his wife, Deborah Haller, who each gave the maximum $8,325 to James’ gubernatorial campaign in 2025.

The records raise new questions about James’ ties to the data center industry at a time when he and Johnson are trying to distance themselves from the massive projects, which have drawn growing backlash from Republicans, Democrats, environmentalists, rural residents, and local governments across Michigan.




https://www.metrotimes.com/news/john-james-attacks-data-centers-while-taking-money-from-their-builders/